We will now be taking our holiday break and will be off-air until the New Year.
Dudeist, Realist et al.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Asia Foundation disowns James "that is Doctor (Dr.) Klein, PhD. to you" Klein's number crunching
While highly respected journalist Shawn Crispin was using James "that is Doctor (Dr.) Klein, PhD. to you" Klein's figures to put together an important story he might have taken the time to double-check his sources. He didn't but Thai Politico and friends did.
One of the consequences of this double-checking was a polite exchange of views between an associate of Thai Politico and James "that is Doctor (Dr.) Klein, PhD. to you" Klein, the influential Asia Foundation's representative in Thailand. These were published on Thai Politico here and here.
However, after our friend and colleague persisted with questioning James "that is Doctor (Dr.) Klein, PhD. to you" Klein with such hard-bitten questions as, would he -
"be focusing on...the fact that the EC seemingly ignored the "red card" handed to a Democrat Party executive in the 2007 election to the same degree you queried the PPP's claims [of being the most popular political party in Thailand]?" and "Do you think the Democrat Party have more electoral legitimacy to govern than the former PPP?"
James "that is Doctor (Dr.) Klein, PhD. to you" Klein flipped sending our contact a ranting, bad-tempered email, filled with spelling mistakes and the claim that Thai Politico's colleague was a "Thakisn [(sic)]-paid PR." He also complained about Thai Politico publishing his correspondence (our contact is a journalist who initially went through the Asia Foundation's HQ press office - at no time did Asia Foundation or Klein say anything was off the record) - yet waited a week to do so even though he admits he read his correspondences on Thai Politico only hours after they appeared.
As a result of all this Asia Foundation's HQ in San Francisco have contacted Thai Politico and stated that the views contained in Klein's article, In Thailand: A Reality Check, that appeared on the Asia Foundation website are "not those of The Asia Foundation." Nice to see them standing behind their man.
In his defense Thai Politico would like to point out that James "that is Doctor (Dr.) Klein, PhD. to you" Klein also stated that Thai Politico was "a favorite, but not always agreeing 100%, blog."
Thanks Jimbo.
Oops, I mean thanks Doctor (Dr.) Klein, PhD.
One of the consequences of this double-checking was a polite exchange of views between an associate of Thai Politico and James "that is Doctor (Dr.) Klein, PhD. to you" Klein, the influential Asia Foundation's representative in Thailand. These were published on Thai Politico here and here.
However, after our friend and colleague persisted with questioning James "that is Doctor (Dr.) Klein, PhD. to you" Klein with such hard-bitten questions as, would he -
"be focusing on...the fact that the EC seemingly ignored the "red card" handed to a Democrat Party executive in the 2007 election to the same degree you queried the PPP's claims [of being the most popular political party in Thailand]?" and "Do you think the Democrat Party have more electoral legitimacy to govern than the former PPP?"
James "that is Doctor (Dr.) Klein, PhD. to you" Klein flipped sending our contact a ranting, bad-tempered email, filled with spelling mistakes and the claim that Thai Politico's colleague was a "Thakisn [(sic)]-paid PR." He also complained about Thai Politico publishing his correspondence (our contact is a journalist who initially went through the Asia Foundation's HQ press office - at no time did Asia Foundation or Klein say anything was off the record) - yet waited a week to do so even though he admits he read his correspondences on Thai Politico only hours after they appeared.
As a result of all this Asia Foundation's HQ in San Francisco have contacted Thai Politico and stated that the views contained in Klein's article, In Thailand: A Reality Check, that appeared on the Asia Foundation website are "not those of The Asia Foundation." Nice to see them standing behind their man.
In his defense Thai Politico would like to point out that James "that is Doctor (Dr.) Klein, PhD. to you" Klein also stated that Thai Politico was "a favorite, but not always agreeing 100%, blog."
Thanks Jimbo.
Oops, I mean thanks Doctor (Dr.) Klein, PhD.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Abhisit's first own goal - SMS messages for the people (at a premium rate)
In an unprecedented attempt to curry favour, new Thai PM Abhisit delivered millions of SMS mobile phone texts messages to the Thai electorate today.
The messages contained a brief statement from PM Abhisit asking for the electorate to support him as he tried to unify the country at this difficult time.
PM Abhisit also asked for people to respond to him with their zipcodes by replying to a 9191 number. This is a premium number which charges 3baht per message - up to 10 times the rate for some phone users.
According to Thai friends who did a quick translation of comments left on Thailand's most popular internet forum, pantip.com, this may have backfired. Some Thais are refusing to send their zipcodes but are rather letting PM Abhisit know what they think of him through a series of written messages. Some ask if he is proud to be PM even though he lost the election while others question his new found political bedfellows - the banned Newin Chidchob, someone who Abhisit considered a political enemy up until a new coalition was formed.
More importantly Thai Politico thinks that the Democrats are showing new levels of stinginess by asking the electorate to pay premium SMS rates when they were prepared to pay 30million baht ++ per coalition MP.
Shame on you PM Abhisit.
The messages contained a brief statement from PM Abhisit asking for the electorate to support him as he tried to unify the country at this difficult time.
PM Abhisit also asked for people to respond to him with their zipcodes by replying to a 9191 number. This is a premium number which charges 3baht per message - up to 10 times the rate for some phone users.
According to Thai friends who did a quick translation of comments left on Thailand's most popular internet forum, pantip.com, this may have backfired. Some Thais are refusing to send their zipcodes but are rather letting PM Abhisit know what they think of him through a series of written messages. Some ask if he is proud to be PM even though he lost the election while others question his new found political bedfellows - the banned Newin Chidchob, someone who Abhisit considered a political enemy up until a new coalition was formed.
More importantly Thai Politico thinks that the Democrats are showing new levels of stinginess by asking the electorate to pay premium SMS rates when they were prepared to pay 30million baht ++ per coalition MP.
Shame on you PM Abhisit.
Red Shirts Shot as they march on Bangkok's airports....
No, it didn't really happen - but don't be surprised if this is how the police and army eventually react to the 'red - shirts'.
Another bit of genius from Not The Nation....
And here's a match report when the PAD football team played the Friends of Newin 11.
Another bit of genius from Not The Nation....
And here's a match report when the PAD football team played the Friends of Newin 11.
Police and State Hypocrisy
With the Thai police deciding to start prosecutions against red-shirted demonstrators outside parliament on the day The Democrats ascended to power, Thailand's withering hypocrisy was laid bare.
Of course, if these red-shirted demonstrators broke the law for throwing a few bricks at departing Democrats they should be arrested and tried.
Yet, despite mountains of evidence against the violent, murdering PAD mob, not one arrest or charge has been made or laid. Unless Abhisit's government can be shown to act impartially it will soon get a reputation as dishonest brokers, not to be trusted by the general population.
In a brilliant article entitled Prosecuting Thailand's PAD UPI Asia columnist and Asian Human Rights Commission member, Awzar Thi, shines a harsh, bright light onto the new Thai government's appalling hypocrisy.
Of course, if these red-shirted demonstrators broke the law for throwing a few bricks at departing Democrats they should be arrested and tried.
Yet, despite mountains of evidence against the violent, murdering PAD mob, not one arrest or charge has been made or laid. Unless Abhisit's government can be shown to act impartially it will soon get a reputation as dishonest brokers, not to be trusted by the general population.
In a brilliant article entitled Prosecuting Thailand's PAD UPI Asia columnist and Asian Human Rights Commission member, Awzar Thi, shines a harsh, bright light onto the new Thai government's appalling hypocrisy.
Dissolving Democracy
When Thailand's PPP were disbanded a couple of weeks back huge applause rang out for the constitutional court's decision which was widely regarded as a blow against corruption and victory for probity and democracy.
The startling thing about this law for party dissolution is that is it incredibly ANTI-democratic as no charge proved or otherwise could be levied against the vast majority of PPP members. By that reckoning the PPP was mostly clean. Or, if you want, as clean as the now ruling Democrats whose members openly sided with the violent illegal activity of the PAD and who have yet to answer similar charges as those which brought down the PPP - conveniently the original evidence against The Democrats seems to have disappeared.
Now, for sack of argument, lets imagine if the laws used against the PPP were applied across some of the more highly-developed democracies.
Arguably, not only single party of government nor opposition would exist.
Obama would be disqualified and the US Democrats disbanded due to the scandal presently being played out concerning the Democrat's Illinois Governor.
French President Sarkozy would be out on his ear because of former French President Jacques Chirac's dealings (they are both in the same political party) and the German leader Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats would be dissolved due to ex- Chancellor Helmut Kohl's tainted past.
Due to numerous past scandals, the British Labour Party wouldn't exist nor would the USA Republicans or the British Conservatives (now we're talking!!).
And, in the final analysis, not only would Thailand's PPP be disbanded so would The Democrats.
The startling thing about this law for party dissolution is that is it incredibly ANTI-democratic as no charge proved or otherwise could be levied against the vast majority of PPP members. By that reckoning the PPP was mostly clean. Or, if you want, as clean as the now ruling Democrats whose members openly sided with the violent illegal activity of the PAD and who have yet to answer similar charges as those which brought down the PPP - conveniently the original evidence against The Democrats seems to have disappeared.
Now, for sack of argument, lets imagine if the laws used against the PPP were applied across some of the more highly-developed democracies.
Arguably, not only single party of government nor opposition would exist.
Obama would be disqualified and the US Democrats disbanded due to the scandal presently being played out concerning the Democrat's Illinois Governor.
French President Sarkozy would be out on his ear because of former French President Jacques Chirac's dealings (they are both in the same political party) and the German leader Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats would be dissolved due to ex- Chancellor Helmut Kohl's tainted past.
Due to numerous past scandals, the British Labour Party wouldn't exist nor would the USA Republicans or the British Conservatives (now we're talking!!).
And, in the final analysis, not only would Thailand's PPP be disbanded so would The Democrats.
Nice Mr. Abhisit - Asia's George W Bush
At the moment endless comments are being made about how untainted Thailand's new PM Abhisit Vejjajiva is by the stinking, fetid hand of corruption. He is portrayed as the 'white knight' of Thai politics - shiny, Eton-educated, handsome and dashing. The angle here is that he contrasts completely to the up-country, lo-so connivings of 'evil' Thaksin - a man who sought to 'buy' the votes of the poor by building them hospitals and roads (I'd call it doing his job, but then I don't 'understand' Thailand).
Yet, when considering international standards of clean, how does Mr. Abhisit scrub up?
Until evidence emerges to the contrary, Abhisit seems to be free of any claim of financial shenanigans. But, given how wealthy and privileged his background is, he'd not have much need to engage in such dealings anyway.
However, if you look at Abhisit's recent record regarding a whole host of other activities, events and bed-partners he is anything but 'clean'.
Take the violent and fascist fanatics of the PAD - while they were illegally occupying Government House and Bangkok's airports; while they were shooting at people on the streets of the Thai capital; while they were attacking the police; while they were kidnapping and beating people; while they were dumping bodies in back alleys; while they were running roughshod over every single law they could get away with, Abhisit said nothing. Such is Abhisit's highly educated 'belief' in 'democracy' and 'clean' politics he failed to open his mouth once and condemn the acts of the PAD. In fact, he allowed Democrat MPs to openly attend, speak at and support the PAD's completely illegal acts, something which he still hasn't censured. The upshot is, like a Mafia Don, Abhisit was happy for a gang of heavies to do his dirty work while he hid in his mansion drinking tea in the effete manner he learnt in the hallowed halls of the Britain's most elite private school.
Then comes the moment of coalition - Abhisit immediately jumps into bed with a leading Thaksinite, Newin Chidchob, who himself is banned from Thai politics for the kind of activity the PAD and the Democrats so widely denounced and abhorred. Abhisit's hypocrisy was all the more staggering for it's blatant disregard.
Abhisit's military record has a dark mysterious cloud hanging over it that is reminiscent of that other tainted politician who is such a shining symbol of 'freedom' and 'democracy,' George W Bush. The similarities don't end there - Bush and Abhisit are both drawn from the tiniest, wealthiest elite and both gained their positions after losing the popular vote and off the back of dodgy court decisions
Finally, comes the sorry tale of General Anupong - the head of Thailand's armed forces. Anupong has gone on record as stating he 'advised' Abhisit's coalition partners what to do. In any functioning democracy such intervention by the head of the army would demolish, in one single moment, the claims of the existing government's legitimacy. And, if Anupong's meeting was so benign, where are the minutes, the taped recordings of what he said, the evidence that backs up the line that the head of the military, in a country with the worst record on the planet for military coups, caught advising politicians, could be considered anything other than an implied threat? Worldly Mr. Abhisit, Eton and Oxford educated, would know and understand that only too well. Yet, once again, much like a Mafia Don, Abhisit is happy for the dirty work to be done by others, an iron fist inside a velvet glove.
Thailand's nice Mr. Abhisit, despite his good looks, his pressed suits and manners learnt in English private schools, is anything but. Eton, the private school Abhisit attended in the UK, is known as the place that bred the rulers of the British Empire - it is a proven training centre for some of the most ruthless, conniving and back-stabbing bastards in history.
It can only be surmised, that by any standard of democracy or justice, Mr. Abhisit is neither 'nice' or 'clean'.
Yet, when considering international standards of clean, how does Mr. Abhisit scrub up?
Until evidence emerges to the contrary, Abhisit seems to be free of any claim of financial shenanigans. But, given how wealthy and privileged his background is, he'd not have much need to engage in such dealings anyway.
However, if you look at Abhisit's recent record regarding a whole host of other activities, events and bed-partners he is anything but 'clean'.
Take the violent and fascist fanatics of the PAD - while they were illegally occupying Government House and Bangkok's airports; while they were shooting at people on the streets of the Thai capital; while they were attacking the police; while they were kidnapping and beating people; while they were dumping bodies in back alleys; while they were running roughshod over every single law they could get away with, Abhisit said nothing. Such is Abhisit's highly educated 'belief' in 'democracy' and 'clean' politics he failed to open his mouth once and condemn the acts of the PAD. In fact, he allowed Democrat MPs to openly attend, speak at and support the PAD's completely illegal acts, something which he still hasn't censured. The upshot is, like a Mafia Don, Abhisit was happy for a gang of heavies to do his dirty work while he hid in his mansion drinking tea in the effete manner he learnt in the hallowed halls of the Britain's most elite private school.
Then comes the moment of coalition - Abhisit immediately jumps into bed with a leading Thaksinite, Newin Chidchob, who himself is banned from Thai politics for the kind of activity the PAD and the Democrats so widely denounced and abhorred. Abhisit's hypocrisy was all the more staggering for it's blatant disregard.
Abhisit's military record has a dark mysterious cloud hanging over it that is reminiscent of that other tainted politician who is such a shining symbol of 'freedom' and 'democracy,' George W Bush. The similarities don't end there - Bush and Abhisit are both drawn from the tiniest, wealthiest elite and both gained their positions after losing the popular vote and off the back of dodgy court decisions
Finally, comes the sorry tale of General Anupong - the head of Thailand's armed forces. Anupong has gone on record as stating he 'advised' Abhisit's coalition partners what to do. In any functioning democracy such intervention by the head of the army would demolish, in one single moment, the claims of the existing government's legitimacy. And, if Anupong's meeting was so benign, where are the minutes, the taped recordings of what he said, the evidence that backs up the line that the head of the military, in a country with the worst record on the planet for military coups, caught advising politicians, could be considered anything other than an implied threat? Worldly Mr. Abhisit, Eton and Oxford educated, would know and understand that only too well. Yet, once again, much like a Mafia Don, Abhisit is happy for the dirty work to be done by others, an iron fist inside a velvet glove.
Thailand's nice Mr. Abhisit, despite his good looks, his pressed suits and manners learnt in English private schools, is anything but. Eton, the private school Abhisit attended in the UK, is known as the place that bred the rulers of the British Empire - it is a proven training centre for some of the most ruthless, conniving and back-stabbing bastards in history.
It can only be surmised, that by any standard of democracy or justice, Mr. Abhisit is neither 'nice' or 'clean'.
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