Le Jacquelope
Loves Spam
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2003
- Posts
- 76,445
It just amazes me why neo cons wouldn't move there.. 
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060315...D8QXmf9xg8F;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE-
Many Thais Weary of 'CEO Prime Minister'
By JOCELYN GECKER, Associated Press WriterWed Mar 15, 2:29 PM ET
Mixing business and politics was a winning strategy for Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra back in 2001. A self-made billionaire, Thaksin called himself a new breed of politician, a "CEO prime minister" who could revitalize Thailand by running it like a company.
But there were early signs of trouble. A week before the 2001 election, Thaksin was charged with concealing assets in his telecommunications empire by transferring shares to relatives, his chauffeur, maid and others. At one point, two of his domestic servants were among the top 10 shareholders on Thailand's stock exchange.
Five years and many corruption allegations later, a growing number of Thais say they're fed up with Thaksin. Thousands of protesters are demanding his ouster, saying his business ties have hurt the country.
At the center of Thaksin's problems is Shin Corp., the media conglomerate he founded. It was his transfer of Shin shares that raised eyebrows in 2001 and the sell-off of the family's controlling stake in January that triggered the current political crisis.
"It's an ironic downfall," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political science professor at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University. "The sale of Shin Corp. was supposed to clear him of nagging conflict of interest accusations. But in the end, it was the last straw."
Thaksin's family sold its 49.6 percent stake in Shin to Singapore's state investment company, Temasek Holdings, for $1.9 billion, and found loopholes to avoid paying any tax on the sale.
The 56-year-old leader, who denies any wrongdoing, indicated Wednesday for the first time that he would consider stepping aside temporarily to defuse the protests, though it remained uncertain if or when he would do so.
Critics say the Shin deal involved insider trading and tax dodges and complained that national assets — including communications satellites — were sold to a foreign government.
Thaksin rose to power on a raft of nationalist policies, winning over voters by accusing the incumbent prime minister of failing to lift Thailand out of the 1997 Asian financial crisis and of neglecting the poor.
The new prime minister's corporate management approach to government became known as "Thaksinomics" — heavy spending to promote growth and wean the country from dependence on imports and foreign loans. Critics say it's a recipe for long-term debt.
Thaksin, a former police officer, cast himself as a champion of the poor. He introduced virtually free health care, a three-year debt suspension program for farmers and low-interest loans for poor villages.
"He used taxpayers' money for massive handouts to the poor. What poor person wouldn't vote for that?" said Sompop Manarangsan, an economics professor with Chulalongkorn University.
The country's rural majority, which accounts for more than 80 percent of Thailand's 63 million people, propelled Thaksin to another term in 2005; his party won 377 of 500 parliamentary seats.
The victory made Thaksin the first civilian prime minister to finish a full four-year term in Thailand. It was also the first time a single party had swept a majority of the legislative seats.
However, discontent has been brewing for years among the educated classes.
Since taking office, Thaksin has battled accusations of corruption and cronyism. Critics accused him of crafting national policy to benefit Shin and handing out mega-project contracts to wealthy friends.
He quickly showed an intolerance for criticism, trying to muzzle what was once Asia's freest media and blocking Shin-owned television stations from broadcasting anti-government content.
In one case that had a chilling effect on freedom of speech, a media critic was sued for $10.2 million for suggesting Shin Corp. profited from government connections. A court acquitted the critic, Supinya Klangnarong, on Wednesday.
Thaksin also came under fire for his handling of a Muslim insurgency in southern Thailand, and drew criticism for being authoritarian, arrogant and brash.
His war on drugs left 2,300 people dead during a three-month period in 2003. Human rights groups complained police were turned loose to kill drug dealers and users at will. Thaksin defended the police, saying drug lords turned against each other, and he noted that drug use dropped.
When the U.S. State Department joined critics of the crackdown, Thaksin called Washington a "useless friend." And when the United Nations worried that the killings amounted to summary executions, Thaksin said the world body "isn't my father."
Critics also said Thaksin routinely failed to honor the reformist 1997 constitution, which was aimed at promoting democracy.
He was accused of filling independent bodies — the Election Commission, the National Counter Corruption Commission, the Constitutional Court — with allies. It was the anti-corruption commission that indicted Thaksin in 2001 for hiding assets and the court that acquitted him by an 8-to-7 decision.
To defuse protests, Thaksin dissolved parliament last month and called for elections April 2. The opposition has vowed to boycott the vote.
"Thaksin hasn't yet come to realize that the boycott of the snap election is not a rejection of democracy," The Nation newspaper said in an editorial. "But, rather, a reaction to his refusal to accept fundamental democratic values like transparency, honesty and freedom of speech."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060315...D8QXmf9xg8F;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE-
Many Thais Weary of 'CEO Prime Minister'
By JOCELYN GECKER, Associated Press WriterWed Mar 15, 2:29 PM ET
Mixing business and politics was a winning strategy for Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra back in 2001. A self-made billionaire, Thaksin called himself a new breed of politician, a "CEO prime minister" who could revitalize Thailand by running it like a company.
But there were early signs of trouble. A week before the 2001 election, Thaksin was charged with concealing assets in his telecommunications empire by transferring shares to relatives, his chauffeur, maid and others. At one point, two of his domestic servants were among the top 10 shareholders on Thailand's stock exchange.
Five years and many corruption allegations later, a growing number of Thais say they're fed up with Thaksin. Thousands of protesters are demanding his ouster, saying his business ties have hurt the country.
At the center of Thaksin's problems is Shin Corp., the media conglomerate he founded. It was his transfer of Shin shares that raised eyebrows in 2001 and the sell-off of the family's controlling stake in January that triggered the current political crisis.
"It's an ironic downfall," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political science professor at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University. "The sale of Shin Corp. was supposed to clear him of nagging conflict of interest accusations. But in the end, it was the last straw."
Thaksin's family sold its 49.6 percent stake in Shin to Singapore's state investment company, Temasek Holdings, for $1.9 billion, and found loopholes to avoid paying any tax on the sale.
The 56-year-old leader, who denies any wrongdoing, indicated Wednesday for the first time that he would consider stepping aside temporarily to defuse the protests, though it remained uncertain if or when he would do so.
Critics say the Shin deal involved insider trading and tax dodges and complained that national assets — including communications satellites — were sold to a foreign government.
Thaksin rose to power on a raft of nationalist policies, winning over voters by accusing the incumbent prime minister of failing to lift Thailand out of the 1997 Asian financial crisis and of neglecting the poor.
The new prime minister's corporate management approach to government became known as "Thaksinomics" — heavy spending to promote growth and wean the country from dependence on imports and foreign loans. Critics say it's a recipe for long-term debt.
Thaksin, a former police officer, cast himself as a champion of the poor. He introduced virtually free health care, a three-year debt suspension program for farmers and low-interest loans for poor villages.
"He used taxpayers' money for massive handouts to the poor. What poor person wouldn't vote for that?" said Sompop Manarangsan, an economics professor with Chulalongkorn University.
The country's rural majority, which accounts for more than 80 percent of Thailand's 63 million people, propelled Thaksin to another term in 2005; his party won 377 of 500 parliamentary seats.
The victory made Thaksin the first civilian prime minister to finish a full four-year term in Thailand. It was also the first time a single party had swept a majority of the legislative seats.
However, discontent has been brewing for years among the educated classes.
Since taking office, Thaksin has battled accusations of corruption and cronyism. Critics accused him of crafting national policy to benefit Shin and handing out mega-project contracts to wealthy friends.
He quickly showed an intolerance for criticism, trying to muzzle what was once Asia's freest media and blocking Shin-owned television stations from broadcasting anti-government content.
In one case that had a chilling effect on freedom of speech, a media critic was sued for $10.2 million for suggesting Shin Corp. profited from government connections. A court acquitted the critic, Supinya Klangnarong, on Wednesday.
Thaksin also came under fire for his handling of a Muslim insurgency in southern Thailand, and drew criticism for being authoritarian, arrogant and brash.
His war on drugs left 2,300 people dead during a three-month period in 2003. Human rights groups complained police were turned loose to kill drug dealers and users at will. Thaksin defended the police, saying drug lords turned against each other, and he noted that drug use dropped.
When the U.S. State Department joined critics of the crackdown, Thaksin called Washington a "useless friend." And when the United Nations worried that the killings amounted to summary executions, Thaksin said the world body "isn't my father."
Critics also said Thaksin routinely failed to honor the reformist 1997 constitution, which was aimed at promoting democracy.
He was accused of filling independent bodies — the Election Commission, the National Counter Corruption Commission, the Constitutional Court — with allies. It was the anti-corruption commission that indicted Thaksin in 2001 for hiding assets and the court that acquitted him by an 8-to-7 decision.
To defuse protests, Thaksin dissolved parliament last month and called for elections April 2. The opposition has vowed to boycott the vote.
"Thaksin hasn't yet come to realize that the boycott of the snap election is not a rejection of democracy," The Nation newspaper said in an editorial. "But, rather, a reaction to his refusal to accept fundamental democratic values like transparency, honesty and freedom of speech."
