What’s wrong with the author ‘s brain and his eyes.
I’ve always see my beloved king smile.
He’s never ask anyone to love him but
all Thai people love him because all things he did to our country.
If you don’t know the true or do the good research before write
the book , you should not write.
Are you the author or just write it down and print without using brain or common sense.
Give it up Republican – that the king should take responsibilty for a BOT attempt to curtail currency speculation is just nonsense and further highlights your malice and one track mind.
Generals have expensive tastes in food and drink. Didn’t Big Jord brag about routinely drinking X0,000 baht bottles of wine?
Besides, we shouldn’t blame the generals. Didn’t the King himself recently vouch for them and tell everybody they were good people? To question them is most inappropriate.
[…] From my research (which has been a little hurried given the impending festivities) there still seems to be no sensible explanation on how Sonthi’s secret billion baht coup fund was spent. I am not an expert on the financing of military operations, but the claim that it was spent on food and drink seems absurd. Enough of the silliness. This is a story that warrants some serious investigation. There has been some brief discussion in the Bangkok Post but, from my quick survey, nothing at all in The Nation. I would have thought that the fearless anti-corruption advocates at The Nation would have been all over this like a rash. And how are the Thai language papers dealing with the story? Any updates would be very welcome. […]
Now will the king, who endorsed the coup, gave his blessing to the military junta, strongly supported his privy councilor as PM, and promoted his wacky self-sufficiency theory as the blue-print for the country’s economic policy, be courageous enough to take responsibility for this farce? Or will he, as usual, hide behind lese majeste and let his underlings take the rap? Or is the economy all going to plan: enforced self-sufficiency by royal decree?
The Thai people owe a lot to this remarkable ascetic Chamlong Srimuang. As you now know, in 1992, Chamlong Srimuang helped rescue the democracy of Thailand from military rule by leading the protests that toppled Suchinda.
However, in 1992, the democracy of Thailand was still facing peril! because that constitution did NOT set up proper institutions and courts to check and scrutinize the behaviors of the political leaders and the military/police in the affairs of the State! It was this MAJOR loophole in our Thai Constitution of 1992 for which General Suchinda took advantage of – which allowed him to bypass proper democratic processes to establish himself as the premier of Thailand. Unless this loophole in our Thai Constitution is mended,
Thus, Chamlong Srimuang proposed to the National Assembly (combination of the House of Representatives and the Senate) and to His Majesty the King that the Constitution be amended. This action finally occurred in 1997.
In 2006 when it was very clear that Thaksin Shinawatra was violating constitutional ethiquette by refusing to submit himself to accountability despite the many serious allegations of constitutional abuse thus degrading the revered office of the PM of Thailand, Chamlong again led the protests that triggered Thaksin’s ouster by a coup.
All those corrupt pro-Thaksins would try their damnest to maligh Chamlong but the man is honest and with the highest integrity.
Great critical ideas. In regard to your stage for the fall of Mekhong border ports, I understood that the new agent of custom brokers played a role within. However, even though the ports has been controlled by this new condition, i still believe that the local ports along the Mekhong will be able to survive and adapt a new strategy in order to stay alive, as its economics is turning to the so-called ” International like.” They are not falling yet, but just transform…
Thanks Anon. The characterisation “Build->Operate->Transfer” is, in my experience, an ideal rather than an everyday reality in Laos (frankly the expression strikes me as Orwellian New-Speak). Yes, Australia did build the Friendship Bridge, which is now operated successfully by the Lao, but this is a typical showcase project. Things are more “Lao” the further you get from the capital. Beyond the immediate view of tourists and well meaning Viengchan based expats, there is a world where projects are liquidated the moment foreigners backs are turned, and the cash/capital converted into private wealth.
Re “Do the Lao authorities have rules on local management?” yes of course, typically projects must have a local authority appointed director, and project funds (part or all) must be administered through an account which is effectively controlled by local authorities. This is usually sufficient to ensure that things wind up fairly quickly. It all comes down to intentions of the local functionaries, who have an astonishing degree of autonomy, as long they adequately share their good fortune with their superiors. Westen conceptions of “rules” and “management” do not come into the equation.
Before this gets to a different issue, I just want to say that regardless of how many languages a magazine has, it is great that it is available. The bottom line is the more the better, whether it is just with Lao text or with English pararell text. Honestly I think more people will read if there are two langues, and the more publications available regardless of the price, the more chance that people will read and of course in any society the people who are in positions to buy will do that first anyway. Therefore we should be glad of the expats, the students, and everyone who is reading in the Lao PDR.
Well, the need to repay the debt or restock the “secret treasury” would certainly explain as well as anything the recent burp in the Thai stock market.
The only person Chamlong has ever fought for was himself. His actions in Bloody May dramatically increased the popularity of the Phalang Dharma Party. Too bad he couldn’t hold it together. His actions against Beer Chang and Thaksin have put him – and him alone – in the limelight, just the way he likes it.
When I say Chamlong staged a comeback on the trial day of Thaksin, I mean he reappeared in to the limelight after a long absence from public view to give Thaksin his moral support.
Five years later he worked hand in glove with Sondhi Lim to oust Thaksin. Will the real Chamlong please stand up?
Re: Chamlong
Has he be tamed by HMK after that bloodymay?
Did he strike a deal the day he crawl with Suchinda? From then on he left politics and spent most of his energy as a principal of leadership school in Kanchanaburi. Most of his Ajaan were the so-called “Kon Dee” including Purachai, Seripisut, Paiboon Wattanasiritham etc. Later on they came to work for Thaksin. In his book, Paul Handley said something like Prem was behind the lobbying to let Thaksin off the whim. At the time I remember Chamlong himself staged a comeback on the day of Thaksin’s trial by the constitutional court.
Is Chamlong his own man or is he an agent of someone else. To me, Chamlong is a very complex character. Can someone throw some lights on this please?
Chamlong Srimuang is Thailand’s true living hero. He got rid of two dangerous tyrants Suchinda and Thaksin by the power of his broom. I salute Chamlong all the way.
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The King Never Smiles?
What’s wrong with the author ‘s brain and his eyes.
I’ve always see my beloved king smile.
He’s never ask anyone to love him but
all Thai people love him because all things he did to our country.
If you don’t know the true or do the good research before write
the book , you should not write.
Are you the author or just write it down and print without using brain or common sense.
Sufficiency economy?
Give it up Republican – that the king should take responsibilty for a BOT attempt to curtail currency speculation is just nonsense and further highlights your malice and one track mind.
Kong thun taharn – Sonthi’s billion baht fund!
Spent in parlours maybe?
Kong thun taharn – Sonthi’s billion baht fund!
Generals have expensive tastes in food and drink. Didn’t Big Jord brag about routinely drinking X0,000 baht bottles of wine?
Besides, we shouldn’t blame the generals. Didn’t the King himself recently vouch for them and tell everybody they were good people? To question them is most inappropriate.
Sonthi’s secret billion
[…] From my research (which has been a little hurried given the impending festivities) there still seems to be no sensible explanation on how Sonthi’s secret billion baht coup fund was spent. I am not an expert on the financing of military operations, but the claim that it was spent on food and drink seems absurd. Enough of the silliness. This is a story that warrants some serious investigation. There has been some brief discussion in the Bangkok Post but, from my quick survey, nothing at all in The Nation. I would have thought that the fearless anti-corruption advocates at The Nation would have been all over this like a rash. And how are the Thai language papers dealing with the story? Any updates would be very welcome. […]
Sufficiency economy?
Now will the king, who endorsed the coup, gave his blessing to the military junta, strongly supported his privy councilor as PM, and promoted his wacky self-sufficiency theory as the blue-print for the country’s economic policy, be courageous enough to take responsibility for this farce? Or will he, as usual, hide behind lese majeste and let his underlings take the rap? Or is the economy all going to plan: enforced self-sufficiency by royal decree?
Who is Okas Tepalakul?
The Thai people owe a lot to this remarkable ascetic Chamlong Srimuang. As you now know, in 1992, Chamlong Srimuang helped rescue the democracy of Thailand from military rule by leading the protests that toppled Suchinda.
However, in 1992, the democracy of Thailand was still facing peril! because that constitution did NOT set up proper institutions and courts to check and scrutinize the behaviors of the political leaders and the military/police in the affairs of the State! It was this MAJOR loophole in our Thai Constitution of 1992 for which General Suchinda took advantage of – which allowed him to bypass proper democratic processes to establish himself as the premier of Thailand. Unless this loophole in our Thai Constitution is mended,
Thus, Chamlong Srimuang proposed to the National Assembly (combination of the House of Representatives and the Senate) and to His Majesty the King that the Constitution be amended. This action finally occurred in 1997.
In 2006 when it was very clear that Thaksin Shinawatra was violating constitutional ethiquette by refusing to submit himself to accountability despite the many serious allegations of constitutional abuse thus degrading the revered office of the PM of Thailand, Chamlong again led the protests that triggered Thaksin’s ouster by a coup.
All those corrupt pro-Thaksins would try their damnest to maligh Chamlong but the man is honest and with the highest integrity.
Golden Boat update 4: the rise of the customs brokers
Great critical ideas. In regard to your stage for the fall of Mekhong border ports, I understood that the new agent of custom brokers played a role within. However, even though the ports has been controlled by this new condition, i still believe that the local ports along the Mekhong will be able to survive and adapt a new strategy in order to stay alive, as its economics is turning to the so-called ” International like.” They are not falling yet, but just transform…
Golden Boat update 1
[…] Go to Golden Boat update 1, update 2, update 3 and update 4. […]
Book Zone – Lao popular culture
Thanks Anon. The characterisation “Build->Operate->Transfer” is, in my experience, an ideal rather than an everyday reality in Laos (frankly the expression strikes me as Orwellian New-Speak). Yes, Australia did build the Friendship Bridge, which is now operated successfully by the Lao, but this is a typical showcase project. Things are more “Lao” the further you get from the capital. Beyond the immediate view of tourists and well meaning Viengchan based expats, there is a world where projects are liquidated the moment foreigners backs are turned, and the cash/capital converted into private wealth.
Re “Do the Lao authorities have rules on local management?” yes of course, typically projects must have a local authority appointed director, and project funds (part or all) must be administered through an account which is effectively controlled by local authorities. This is usually sufficient to ensure that things wind up fairly quickly. It all comes down to intentions of the local functionaries, who have an astonishing degree of autonomy, as long they adequately share their good fortune with their superiors. Westen conceptions of “rules” and “management” do not come into the equation.
Book Zone – Lao popular culture
Before this gets to a different issue, I just want to say that regardless of how many languages a magazine has, it is great that it is available. The bottom line is the more the better, whether it is just with Lao text or with English pararell text. Honestly I think more people will read if there are two langues, and the more publications available regardless of the price, the more chance that people will read and of course in any society the people who are in positions to buy will do that first anyway. Therefore we should be glad of the expats, the students, and everyone who is reading in the Lao PDR.
Sufficiency economy?
Not the conventional \\\”Thailand bad boys\\\” view:
http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=313&Itemid=32
Sonthi’s secret billion
Well, the need to repay the debt or restock the “secret treasury” would certainly explain as well as anything the recent burp in the Thai stock market.
Sufficiency economy?
Favorite comment so far:
“The one thing worse than an incompetent central bank is an incompetent central bank that flip-flops.”
– Bratin Sanyal, head of Asian equity investments at ING in Hong Kong.
Sufficiency economy?
Wisdom, old age, virtue, royal blessing, all seem so powerless against the “invisible hand”.
Who is Okas Tepalakul?
The only person Chamlong has ever fought for was himself. His actions in Bloody May dramatically increased the popularity of the Phalang Dharma Party. Too bad he couldn’t hold it together. His actions against Beer Chang and Thaksin have put him – and him alone – in the limelight, just the way he likes it.
Who is Okas Tepalakul?
When I say Chamlong staged a comeback on the trial day of Thaksin, I mean he reappeared in to the limelight after a long absence from public view to give Thaksin his moral support.
Five years later he worked hand in glove with Sondhi Lim to oust Thaksin. Will the real Chamlong please stand up?
Who is Okas Tepalakul?
Re: Chamlong
Has he be tamed by HMK after that bloodymay?
Did he strike a deal the day he crawl with Suchinda? From then on he left politics and spent most of his energy as a principal of leadership school in Kanchanaburi. Most of his Ajaan were the so-called “Kon Dee” including Purachai, Seripisut, Paiboon Wattanasiritham etc. Later on they came to work for Thaksin. In his book, Paul Handley said something like Prem was behind the lobbying to let Thaksin off the whim. At the time I remember Chamlong himself staged a comeback on the day of Thaksin’s trial by the constitutional court.
Is Chamlong his own man or is he an agent of someone else. To me, Chamlong is a very complex character. Can someone throw some lights on this please?
Who is Okas Tepalakul?
Chamlong Srimuang is Thailand’s true living hero. He got rid of two dangerous tyrants Suchinda and Thaksin by the power of his broom. I salute Chamlong all the way.
Sonthi’s secret billion
One billion baht for a bloodless coup that got rid of Thaksin was cheap and worth every satang. That is my personal opinion of course.