what meaw has been visiting lately

Filed under: Political Sciences , red shirt

Short and bitter: Daranee refused bail

before i have to run.

ROYAL INSULT

Court refuses Daranee bail
By:
Published: 24/02/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News
The Criminal Court has thrown out a bail request from Daranee Charnchoengsilpakul, better known as Da Torpedo, who is accused of insulting the monarchy. The request was Ms Darunee’s third attempt at securing bail since being charged with lese majeste in connection with a speech she made at a United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship rally at Sanam Luang on July 18 last year.

Suthachai Yimprasert, of Chulalongkorn University, used his official position to seek bail for Ms Daranee. He also acted as her bail guarantor in previous attempts.

Defence lawyer Prawet Prapanukul said his client was suffering from a severe dysfunction of the jaw and should be released for proper treatment.

Mr Prawet submitted to the court a medical examination report issued by a doctor at the Corrections Hospital.

However, the court yesterday said it had reviewed the request and found no grounds to grant bail.

No bail for proper treatment. Well, suffice for being a native not a farang.

Filed under: Political Sciences

Update about decapitation on the bridge

Bangkok Post reported

A headless body has been discovered in the Chao Phraya river near the Rama VIII bridge where the head of a male foreigner was found hanging from a rope on Sunday.
… He said it was uncertain whether the man was murdered or if he committed suicide.

Filed under: Political Sciences

obviously, an additional question

For those of you who have read Chanida Chitbundit’s Royal Projects: The making of King Bhumibol’s Royal Hegemony ) (2007) and the idea was materialized during a visit to the Royal Project Fair.

Did the hilltribe grow what they eat? I will not entertain the idea that they are a fixed cultural entity that must, for cultural sake, behave as if the world is not made to be changed. Yet, the material presented reflects the capitalist demand of having systematic uber cash crop farming versus growing things for their ’subsistence’ livelihood (plus opium). The introduction of the royal project has a ‘help’ was detached from the industrialization and commercialization of the project as a porfit seeking (it is ok to be ‘for-profit’) organization, braving the shrinking market through niche value of being organic, local foreign import premium and the relief that you are helping the hilltribe members, rather than to pay for foreigners and more.

But it could be good thing, you get cheap strawberries and peach, fresh not in a can, even though they are only available seasonally.

The magic of loyalism and nationalism.

Wondering if anyone notice or do anything about royal irrigation projectsin terms of thesis or otherwise.

Filed under: Political Sciences

Two decapitations in the same paper.

One on Rama VIII bridge and several other in decapitation in the south.
a. Bangkok: Head of foreigner found hanging from city bridge. Probably the first head hanging there.
b.Yala: Insurgents behead man and wife in Yala

The unarmed victims, identified as Kongphet Janyarerk, 39, and his wife Yenjai, 38, were ambushed and killed while they were on their way to at a rubber plantation in Yala’s Raman district. The culprits decapitated them and took their heads away before escaping from the area.
…
Kompetch was a deputy village chief. Police speculated on Sunday that the rubber tappers were killed because the insurgents suspected Kongphet had been a government informer.

Thanks Bangkok Post for the “headless” incident report.

Filed under: Political Sciences , bangkok, khao sarn, south of thailand, tourism, violence

less we forget

Read them.

But he was a foreigner and the news highlight kindness, rather than his right to freedom of expression anyway. Has Harry not been pardon, the human rights status of Thailand would go to minus two digit numbers. His release will even emphasize the kindness of the power, internationally recognized rational senses, and that Thailand is not the land of “human rights abuse,” at least for this case. The kindness is not right now available to the rest of the non-farang members of the same charge. We do not know what really happen to them, would anyone write them any petition? Would foreign media help?

Even before his release, I bet the petition would have to say that he was guilty. An act of a pardon did not recognize freedom of expression, but it is likely that on one would like to stay in Bangkok prison. A foreigner being granted pardon does not make any different to freedom of expression in Thailand.

Eventually, when Harry was released and if we were made to forget about the rest of people imprisoned and to be imprisoned in the same charge, please remember that it was not about kindness, but it is about freedom of expression. The intension to make the cost of freedom more expensive on local people, should not be forgotten. The radical politicalization of the charge should not be forgotten. How many more “kindness” must be granted before people would stop using the charge for their own reasons?

The kindness should not be forgotten, but not all people will be able to access.

Filed under: Political Sciences , Free speech

The Curious Case of Thai Opium Elimination

I had read “Secret of Thai success in opium war” at BBC in Afghan-Thai Drug Lesson. Having been planned to visit the Royal Project “farmer market” style show at the paragon to shop for avocado, peach and “organic” strawberries. I was a bit worry that the climate in afghanistan might not be suitable to plant high-value crash crops that could produce as much income, use less water like opium. Still if they insist on doing the project they could have to borrow money for infrastructure, dam, check dams, irrigation canals or even webs of sprinkle pipes would cost a lot of foreign loans and subsequently, debt before they can do the agricultural project.

The British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, who has been in Afghanistan this week, insists they are on the right track with more Afghan provinces becoming opium free and the overall harvest being reduced a little last year.

“I don’t know which programme the Thai representative is talking about because we don’t do grand infrastructure projects,” he said.

Still I am really grateful for the organic strawberries and avocado. But. A huge but, anyone interested in reading anything about nationalism and hydro power development project in Sri Lanka? That could be another upcoming agenda in the irrigation project. How long should the irrigation pipeline be. What ethnic group it should reach before an abrupt end? What can we justified the motive to prevent communism terrorism, drugs and defend democracy. NOT, absolutely not in Thailand where the red provinces usually get dams.

I know women should not ask these questions in public. Many people would be happy if I go there, shop and cook something from avocado for them and do not question the politics behind avocado. Will obviously do this while listening to M.I.A.

Here is a little tip.
Avocado-Yoghurt Smoothie (Two serving)

Filed under: Political Sciences , dams, opium, royal project

loyalty induced violence

What we have not learned or was blocked from rote learning is that loyalty is lethal. Back to the two octobers. Yet, we neverreally allowed to question anything beyond Sarit, Thanom and Prapas even where I came from. People whose loyalty was questioned will be alienated.

Here is how to get anyone who write anything controversial into deep sh*t, tell the police or write to the manager. they will find out who you are, announce to the public, then use the public pressure to call your boss to sack you. The firing will be done anyway if the police took the charge. If you are seriously threatening person and very famous, be careful to receive hate mail, phone calls or minor to serious physical assault.

Still busy with a new request to act as lobbyist about universal coverage. the post research process is far from patting each other on the back and congratulate the long, almost unpaid process of rewriting and writing of research paper and attending many meetings (thank to our legal researchers and in-house pr) until I miss field trips.

Filed under: Political Sciences

Puea Thai induced laundry day, but will it lead to impeachment?

Bangkok Post:

By:
Published: 12/02/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: NewsPrime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has denied receiving an illegal 250 million baht donation from former Matchimathipataya leader Prachai Leophairatana. The donation is among claims the opposition is preparing to ”expose” in a no-confidence debate against the government.

The opposition will also file a motion seeking the impeachment of the prime minister, a move the biggest opposition party, Puea Thai, believes will deliver a knock-out blow to the Democrat-led government.

But Mr Abhisit yesterday insisted there was no donation to ”me or my close aides”.

Deputy Prime Minister and Democrat secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban also insisted no donation had been made.

Election Commission member Sodsri Sattayatham yesterday said the EC would look into the allegation as soon as it received a complaint.

The EC would seek the cooperation of the Anti-Money Laundering Office to follow the money trail if a complaint was made.

The accusation was first aired last December when United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship leader Nattawut Saikua accused the Democrat party of receiving a 250 million baht donation from cement giant TPI Polene Plc, founded by Prachai Leophairatana.

Political parties are barred from receiving donations from individuals or companies of more than 10 million baht a year.

TPI allegedly transferred money to the party through a small printing company.

Among TPI’s executives are Taikorn Polsuwan, a member of the Democrat party. Mr Taikorn is said to be a close aide of Mr Suthep.

”That [printing] company does exist, but it was only hired to make advertising boards for the party during election campaigns,” said Democrat party-list MP Nipon Boonyamanee.

The company’s offices are in a two-storey townhouse in Pathum Thani’s Lam Luk Ka district. Media reports say the company, which was registered in October 2000, was later declared bankrupt by the Central Bankruptcy Court.

While Matichon already name the name “Mezziah”[sic, eh?] and clearly elaborate the connection

เงินจำนวน 250 ล้านบาท ที่นายประชัย เลี่ยวไพรัตน์ อดีตหัวหน้าพรรคมัชฌิมาธิปไตยและเจ้าของบริษัท ทีพีไอโพลีน จำกัด(มหาชน)ยอมรับว่า จ่ายให้แก่บริษัทเมซไซอะ บิซิเนส แอนด์ ครีเอชั่น จำกัด เพื่อเป็นค่าจ้างโฆษณา อาจทำให้แกนนำพรรคประชาธิปัตย์บางคนต้องตกอยู่ในฐานะลำบากเพราะเอกสาร”ลับ”เส้นทางเงินบ่งบอกอย่างชัดเจนว่า มีการนำเงินเข้าบัญชีญาติพี่น้องของ ส.ส.พรรคประชาธิปัตย์อย่างน้อย 5 คนเป็นเงินนับสิบล้านบาท

In short the money Prachai from ex-machima party paid “Mezziah Business Creation Co., Ltd.” the sum of 250 M. The company was reported to be bankrupted in 2008 yet read the report further an you will find that the handsome amount of income had been very lucrative.

ในปี 2547 ซึ่งเป็นปีแรกที่พบว่า อ้างว่ามีการว่าจ้างบริษัททำโฆษณาทำให้มีรายได้รวมถึง 152,190,943.83 บาท

ขณะที่ปี 2546 มีรายได้ 8,242,627.60บาท ปี 2545 มีรายได้ 6,513,795.54 ปี 2544 มีรายได้ 9,315,128.88 และปี 2543 มีรายได้เพียง 5,220,999.10 บาท

จากเอกสารระบุว่าบุคคลชื่อ”ประจวบ”เป็นผู้นำเงินฝากผ่านบัญชีถึง 68 ครั้งจาก 75 ครั้ง คำถามคือ เป็นคนเดียวกับนายประจวบ สังขาว กรรมการบริษัท เมซไวอะะฯหรือไม่

ส่วนผู้นำเงินเข้าบัญชีคนอื่นได้แก่ ประมูล หอมหวล ณัฐพล จิรวิสุทธิกุล มานพ นาสุวรรณ

สำหรับผู้ที่รับเงินปลายทาง เอกสารของพรรคเพื่อไทยอ้างว่า แบ่งออกเป็น 3 กลุ่มใหญ่ๆคือ

หนึ่ง กลุ่มคนใกล้ชิดของนายประจวบ เช่น นายณัฐพล จิรวิสุทธิกุล, นายประมูล,นายสวัสดิ์ สังขาว, นายปัญญา ประสงค์ ฯลฯรวมแล้วหลายสิบล้านบาทและเป็นเงินส่วนใหญ่

สอง กลุ่มใกล้ชิด ส.ส.แบบสัดส่วนทางภาคใต้ของพรรคประชาธิปัตย์ซึ่งมีตำแหน่งกรรมการบริหารพรรคในช่วงที่มีการโอนเงิน เช่น นางมาลีน้องสาว ส.ส. รับไป 10 ล้านบาท นายนูญ เป็นข้าราชการครู แต่ ใกล้ชิด ส.ส. รับไป 3.6 ล้านบาทเศษ นายจักรริน ถือหุ้นบริษัทเดียวกับ ส.ส. 3.1 ล้านบาท

สาม กลุ่มใกล้ชิด ส.ส.สงขลา พรรคประชาธิปัตย์รายหนึ่ง(ใกล้ชิดกับ ส.ส.แบบสัดส่วน) ได้แก่ อาภาพร น้องสาว ส.ส. รับไป 3.6 ล้านบาท สมศักดิ์ ญาติ ส.ส.เจ้าของแพปลา รับไป 1.8 ล้านบาท นายอัฎฐกร พระธาตุ รับไป 3.6 ล้านบาท

นายอัฎฐกร พระธาตุ กล่าวกับ”มติชนออนไลน์”ว่า เจ้าหน้าที่ดีเอสไอได้มาสอบปากคำตนไปแล้ว ช่วงขณะที่ได้รับเงินโอนนั้นทำงานอยู่กับ”น้าอู๊ด” หรือ”สมศักดิ์”ซึ่งเป็นเจ้าของแพปลา เมื่อได้รับเงินก็นำไปให้นายสมศักดิ์ต่อ แต่ไม่ทราบว่านายสมศักดิไปใช้ทำอะไร

ประเด็นสำคัญในเรื่องนี้ นอกจากมีเงินส่วนหนึ่งไหลเข้าบัญชีญาติพี่น้องของ ส.ส.พรรคประชาธิปัตย์แล้ว จะโยงถึงตัวพรรคได้อย่างไร

เพราะเมื่อดูท่าทีของนายสุเทพ เทือกสุบรรณ เลขาธิการพรรคประชาธิปัตย์แล้ว ไม่เดือดเนื้อร้อนใจอะไรมากนักเพราะช่วงที่มีการโอนเงินเข้ากระเป๋า ส.ส.พรรคนั้นเป็นช่วงก่อนการเลือกตั้ง 2 เมษายน 2548 ที่มีนายบัญญัติ บรรทัดฐาน เป็นหัวหน้าพรรค นายประดิษฐ์ ภัทรประสิทธิ์ เป็นเลขาธิการพรรค นายนิพนธ์ บุญญามณี ส.ส.แบบบัญชีรายชื่อ อดีต ส.ส.สงขลา เป็นรองเลขาธิการพรรค

ทั้งนี้เป็นที่รู้กันดีว่า ในขณะนั้นกลุ่มนายบัญญัติและกลุ่มนายสุเทพต่างช่วงชิงอำนาจกันในพรรคกันอย่างดุเดือด

การงัดเรื่องปมเงิน 250 ล้านบาทมาเล่นกันในครั้งนี้ อาจเข้าทางของนายสุเทพ เทือกสุบรรณโดยบังเอิญก็เป็นได้ เว้นแต่มีหลักฐานบางอย่างโยงว่า ผู้บริหารพรรคชุดปัจจุบันมีส่วนเกี่ยวข้องไมาทางใดก็ทางหนึ่ง

Puea Thai had used this topic as another exposure of what had been going on under the carpet. Umm, I like Matichon’s analysis, that’s why Abhisit is so certain that it was not for “me or my close aides,” because at that time, Banyat was taking care of the business. The man from Surat is not a piece of cake. Impeachment and DSI investigation of money laundering are completely different counts.

Filed under: Political Sciences , democrat, impeachment, money laundering, thai politics

Abhisit I: Resuscitate freedom of speech?

First they were verbal daily “corrections” and plea for Thais not to believe the international media, then MFA thought out loud that Ms. Jolie should not say things about Rohinya.

Then you have the Giles’ flight to UK and his statement in the foreign press which we cannot really read them unless you want to use VPN and that kind of stuffs.

On Rohinya issue in particular and refugees (*cough*), anyone, you, me Ms. Jolie, UNHCR and aid organizations or even witnesses can say anything because it is freedom of speech to reflect their views. Fortunately, Ms. Jolie went to a showcase camp. There are other small, on the edge of border camps where the situation would be more bleak and visitors are limited. Why? Not because it is very difficult to travel there, but because they are not meant to be shown.

Anyone can say anything. Whilst the thai authorities could easily resuscitate the image if they could take a group of foreign journalists to the far flung camps and show them how good Thailand could be as a host to humanitarian victims. Well, if they have anything to dispute the claim.

It would not help blaming anyone to say anything when there are solid proof of mistreatment of migrants. What the government, MOI and MFA had been doing during the last weeks were telling Thais through mainstream media that the Rohinya are dangerous, they could pose danger to internal security, they would buy their way to have a card that will ensure free medical treatment and free school. To international media, Thai government, particularly MFA told them that these people are economic migrants they came to seek employment, thus generally refuse the treat these people faced before the arrival and deny any responsibility to forcibly push them back to Myanmar.

Earlier people who spoke about the institution paid expensive price. One is in jail, waiting for a pardon to be granted, the other flied off to England, at least three I remembered are still being imprisoned.

Even on ordinary netizen, websites and blogs were blocked, people who wrote something not liked by the lm police will be pushed down the pipeline. You and me has the same freedom of expression and the right to know as well as Giles or Ms. Jolie but our right are also flushed down the drain because the government is allegedly trying to save some institution. No one know if this will work but they will block anything like the manifesto, only to make people exercise their internet skills. Here is what Mr. Abhisit explained

Feb 12, 2009
Don’t abuse lese majeste law
Acknowledges concerns but monarchy has to be protected
By Nirmal Ghosh, Thailand Correspondent

Mr Abhisit (left) said he had told the police chief that there are some concerns and sensitivities that he should be aware of when applying the law, and he has to be more careful that the law is not abused or too liberally interpreted. — PHOTO: AP
BANGKOK – THAI Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday defended Thailand’s harsh lese majeste law but acknowledged that it should not be abused.
In an exclusive interview with The Straits Times at his office in Parliament House, Mr Abhisit said: ‘A lot of countries have contempt of court laws, because the courts have to be neutral and respected. The monarchy is a revered institution above politics and conflicts and therefore has no self-defence mechanism, that’s why we have the law.’

He agreed however, that the application of the law ‘has caused a number of problems’.

‘Unfortunately the cases that are proceeding are not cases initiated during my administration; they were in the pipeline. But I’ve already told the police chief there are some concerns and sensitivities that he should be aware of when applying the law, and he has to be more careful that the law is not abused or too liberally interpreted.’

Mr Abhisit’s comments came amid controversy following the jailing of Australian writer Harry Nicolaides for lese majeste last month, and the prosecution of a prominent academic professor Giles Ji Ungpakorn who last weekend fled to Britain and released a statement attacking Thai courts as a tool of the elite and the army.

From Giles to Jolie, the problem is the government does not want people, particularly critical people to enjoy freedom of speech, one of the most fundamental human rights. An collective attempt to block out, censored or blur out what had been hidden under the carpet. Not suitable for viewing or hearing but things are always there, waiting for some storm.

Blanket denial. Trying to introduce “xenophobia” to poor non-western aliens (rich aliens might be more welcomed?). Hate of the poor… Well this sound familiar.

Putting things together, we are going down the freedom of speech index, for sure. the government does not seem to try to bail out its human rights record in this regard also.

There were also group of people attacking people who signed petition to revoke lese majeste law, the ultra-right slashed them one by one, figured out if someone had an affair or had any “bad” history, then sent those people threatening email, hate note or even rude calls. That is another story. If you don’t mind reading Thai emails, maybe I will put them here later.

Filed under: Political Sciences , Free speech, Giles, Jolie, Rohinya