Mentors Posted February 25, 2010 Report Share Posted February 25, 2010 More than 20,000 troops and police have been placed on high alert across Thailand, ahead of a supreme court decision on the assets of Thaksin Shinawatra, the country's ousted former prime minister. In its ruling, due on Friday, the court is expected to confiscate at least part of Thaksin's $2.3bn fortune. The former prime minister's assets were frozen after he was ousted in a 2006 coup, amid claims of corruption and abuse of power. But Thaksin's supporters, known as the Red Shirts, have said they will stage mass protests if the court rules against him, raising the possibly of violent confrontation. With tensions high ahead of the ruling, Thai media has labelled the verdict "judgement day". Over the last four years the country's politics have been dominated by a bitter and sometimes violent rivalry between the allies and foes of the former telecommunications tycoon. The conflict pits the military, the urban elites and the so-called Yellow Shirts, against the Red Shirts who are mainly rural Thaksin supporters who claim disenfranchisement. The court will rule on whether Thaksin illegally transfered his fortune to family members because he was prohibited from holding company shares while prime minister, and whether his administration implemented policies that enriched his business. A nine-judge panel at the court's special Criminal Division for Political Office Holders will begin reading their ruling at 1pm local time (06:00 GMT) and are expected to finish after the market closes, ahead of a three-day holiday weekend. Technically the court decision is final, though defence lawyers have 30 days after the ruling to submit new evidence deemed significant to the case. The verdict is timed to minimise the blow to Thailand's stock market, which like the economy and tourism industry, has suffered through the instability. But there are concerns that the risk of renewed civil unrest could damage the country economically. Abhisit Vejjajjiva, the Thai prime minister, called for calm on Wednesday, saying: "If everybody remains calm and accepts the [ruling], Thailand will get through this situation." Thaksin's supporters say no protests are scheduled for Friday but a peaceful "million man march" will be held March 14 in Bangkok. The Red Shirts, known formally as the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, have accused the government of pushing fears of violence to discredit their movement. Thaksin, who denies all the charges, fled into exile ahead of a 2008 conviction for conflict of interest that resulted in a two-year jail sentence. He has said he is willing to negotiatie, but that "if I am persecuted and bullied, I will not tolerate it". Thaksin's supporters want fresh elections, saying that Abhisit took power illegitimately after court rulings unseated two post-coup governments led by Thaksin alnegotiatelies. [color:red]Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist and director of the Bangkok-based Institute of Security and International Studies, warned the expected court ruling was unlikely to end Thailand's crisis. "[This is] because now the Red Shirts have evolved into their own force to be reckoned with," he was quoted by The Associated Press as saying.[/color] [color:red]"They are more than just Thaksin now, and Thailand's problem now is more than just Thaksin."[/color] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted February 25, 2010 Report Share Posted February 25, 2010 Thailand's problem is Thais - especially Chinese-Thais (which means almost every single politician and wealthy businessman). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavanami Posted February 25, 2010 Report Share Posted February 25, 2010 ...not a problem but a challenge! (how's that for spin!!) I also made a run to Makro to stock up on "adult beverages" just in case I get "snowed in"...and the apartment house down the soi is loaded with BGs :grin: Life is/can be good!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted February 25, 2010 Report Share Posted February 25, 2010 Thais are proud they have never been colonised ... except by China. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavanami Posted February 25, 2010 Report Share Posted February 25, 2010 ...and Japan during WWII...but that doesn't count...besides, all the countries that have been colonized are MORE advanced then LOS...but what they hey... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doxx Posted February 25, 2010 Report Share Posted February 25, 2010 Thais are proud they have never been colonised ... except by China. I have to save that quote for later use. Very clever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentors Posted February 25, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2010 The system of Paternalism is the main reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted February 25, 2010 Report Share Posted February 25, 2010 ...and Japan during WWII...but that doesn't count...besides, all the countries that have been colonized are MORE advanced then LOS...but what they hey... Yep. Just look at Burma, Cambodia, Laos ... not to mention almost almost all of Africa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavanami Posted February 25, 2010 Report Share Posted February 25, 2010 Try Singapore...Malaysia...USA...Canada...etc. Laos, Cambodia, the "colonizers" pulled out and then the country went to crap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted February 25, 2010 Report Share Posted February 25, 2010 USA ... settled and built by Farangs. Canada ... settled and built by Farangs. The Injuns might argue that they are not better off. Singapore ... an island with only a fishing village that was built up by Farangs and populated by Chinese. Wouldn't have been a country, if the Malayans hadn't kicked them out for being Chinese. Malaysia ... run by Chinese and Indians. The Malaysian majority has to be protected by "affirmative action" and wishes the Brits would come back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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