Arrest warrant for former Thai PM

Source: al jazeera



A court in Bangkok has approved an arrest warrant for former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on "terrorism charges".

Thaksin is accused of bankrolling recent "red shirt" protests in the Thai capital that left 88 people dead and thousands wounded following a mililtary crackdown.

The court on Tuesday heard evidence from Thailand's department of special investigations, the agency charged with investigating the protests.
...
Meanwhile, opposition politicians in Thailand have begun moves to impeach the country's prime minister over his handling of the protests.

Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2010/05/201052565721987560.html

He'd also been skimming when he was in power :

Thaksin Shinawatra stripped of half his fortune for abuse of power : http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/feb/26/thaksin-shinawatra

There are no "good guys" in the present conflict. You have

Crook #1 A self made Billionaire who entered onto the political field ... and in my opinion probably did game the system...

Crook #2 That old wolf Prem Tinsulanonda Special advisor to the King and part of the Monarchy. His group of "Ex-Military" now turned business tycoons control the levers of power. So basically Corp Billionaire vs Military Billionaires

But crook #1 at least took care of his constituents....and himself

Crook #2... Well same ole same ole.

I believe the succession to the throne has a lot to do with these manuvers... That young upstart Thaskin can never out play the ole
Machiavellian Prem.

This scenario is also quite plausible.

* ABHISIT IS DUMPED, CARETAKER GOVERNMENT INSTALLED

The coming days could determine whether Abhisit is viewed as the man who restored law and order to Bangkok and began healing wounds, or as the hapless intellectual who failed to do the job. Analysts say the military wants to keep his government in power until it completes an annual reshuffle of top posts, as it involves power, prestige and control of army-linked firms.

If the military-backed coalition thinks Abhisit needs to be abandoned, he will be dumped, but his roadmap to reconciliation might survive. This involves early elections and reforms to heal wounds. An acceptable figure would be named as a caretaker prime minister until fresh elections, not due until December 2011.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64J2YW20100520

Lese Majeste Cases Rise, But Public in the Dark

http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=51434

Ya cant beat the old guard... They will win by hook or crook every time!!!
Fears of a post-election dirty tricks campaign by Thailand's old guard appear to be coming true.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSBKK9051020080104

Complicating the impasse is a deeper debate over the role of Thailand's politically powerful military, which appears unwilling to allow another taste of power to the supporters of populist leader Thaksin Shinawatra, the man the army ousted in 2006.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304168004575177172506231604.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_world

Thailand experienced three major legitimacy crises after 1992; in each case, Prem acted on behalf of the palace to restore political equilibrium. However, these interventions reflected the growing weakness of the monarchy, especially following the landslide election victories of prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2001 and 2005. Thaksin sought to displace network monarchy with new networks of his own devising. This article suggests that conventional understandings of the power of the monarchy need to be rethought.

http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/1659089849-53463915/content~content=a748089106~db=all

In making this comment, Prem makes it clear how he views the Puea Thai Party and red shirts – they are traitors.

http://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/2009/10/16/new-prem-and-the-traitor-chavalit/

The Criminal Code states that whoever defames, insults or threatens the King, Queen, the heir-apparent or the Regent, shall be jailed for three to 15 years, but the statute is broadly interpreted to apply to any mention of the institution of royalty that is less than flattering. Prem Tinsulanonda is was and will always be considered part of the Monarchy...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_censorship_in_Thailand

I guess this must have been one of the fractious sticking points in the negotiations to settle the recent conflict:

Why didnt Suthep report to the Crime Suppression Division as opposed to the DSI? could it be because...DSI director-general Tharit Pengdit is Mr Suthep's subordinate and is a member of the CRES committee," Mr Suthep, supervises the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES).
Looks to me like the deck has been stacked...Justice in a utopian world is supposed to be blind... Seems like one participant in the negotiations wants "Just-US"... And thats exactly what they will get.