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:mypenwry SNAP CRACKLE POP Well, it’s no big surprise that the very smug looking Taksin (as seen on the front page of Sunday’s Nation following the announcement) called a snap election. Last month MPW pointed out that even if the Ample Rich deal was legal, it was morally corrupt, and would most likely bring on the downfall of the TRT empire – it seems we were on the button with that prediction. Most pundits thought this move would pacify the anti-Taksin movement, but that’s far from the truth. We can only imagine what might happen in the month leading up to the election as the corruption inferno rages on, but we’re pretty sure it’s going to come to an explosive climax. WRAPPING UP THE CASE Call me a cynic, but MPW did a double take when we read about the ‘farang’ who apparently topped himself on a 25 metre billboard late last month. Col Suphisarn Pakdinarunart, who is superintendent of the Lumphini Police station, said “we suspect suicide, partly because Westerners usually kill themselves like this”. While climbing up a 25m billboard to hang yourself is certainly not that bizarre, it’s the fact he bound a plastic bag over his head with masking tape first that somehow doesn’t ring true! Hmmm. I wonder if they found the roll of masking tape at the scene of the crime. I guess not.
DOUBLE WHAMMY Speaking of Crime Scene Investigation, you don’t need a degree to piece together all the clues in the battle for telecom supremecy over the last few years. Taksin came to power when DTAC was about to be purchased by the Scandinavian Telecom Company Telenor, which would probably have been a serious threat to AIS. Hence one of his first bills was to reduce the amount of shareholding of foreign companies in telecoms. But when his turn came up to bat, his government passed a bill lowering the foreign shareholding threshold 3 days before. While neither is particularly transparent, together they are condemning.
VICE VERSA. They say porn represents 80% of all internet downloads. ABAC claims 70% of Thais aged 15-24 have downloaded internet porn. But even so MPW questions the latest initiative of the bureaucracy to prevent us from being exposed to anything even slightly shady. While blocking suspicious sites sounds good in theory, isn’t it a bit like the recording industry trying to stop music downloads? There’s always somewhere else to get your hit. Besides as Mrs Malaprop would have said, “anyone knows it’s what you can’t see that really pricks your interest”. It’s ironic that this initiative started just as the PM relinquished his telecom holdings. I guess he doesn’t care if Thai youth take a 70% drop in bandwidth usage now – it’s someone elses money. REALLY THROWING THE BOOK AT THEM. MPW is thrilled to see the government taking a tough stance on illegal gambling casino’s. For instance, there’s one den in Tao Poon which has been raided three times
in the last 15 months. While the latest raid only netted B7,100, the first time the den was raided police found B56 MILLION in cash and chips. Either the clientele is a little less extravagant, or (my guess is) they’re getting smarter at whisking away the money before the cops can get inside. So what did the police do to the owners of the gambling den? They said both the building owner and the bookmaker (I wonder how they knew who he was?) will face B1,000 fines. And to really make their point each of the 35 gamblers arrested face a B1,000 fine also. You can see how, with stiff penalties like this, they really have the gambling problem licked. Yeah right! A SHOT IN THE ARM We’ve all stood in queues for hours only to have some nitwit push straight past us to the front of the line. And we’ve all muttered under our breath what we’d like to do to the cheeky SOB if we could. So MPW delighted in the story of the Bangkok Bank security guard who, when confronted with a queue-jumper who refused to relinquish her illgotten gain, shot her in the shoulder. I guess he’ll lose his job for it, but I’d give him my vote for employee of the month – with a few more guards like that, banking would be a far more peaceful process.
rg o . or t c e p s in r e yb c . w w w
Loose Tongues Snap Election – Early Daze… “The parties agreed that the house dissolution missed the point, lacked legitimacy and tried to shift public attention.” Democrat leader Abhisit on Taksin’s snap election plan (Post, Feb 26) “What needs establishing is whether Mr Taksin is corrupt” Leading social criti and long term mentor of Taksin, Prawase Wasi (Nation, Feb 26) “[I have] dissolved the house because of attempts to overthrow the government by people who stand to lose their benefits” Taksin announces the snap election. (Post, Feb 25) “If the Democrats win the mega-projects plan could hit a stumbling block. It TRT is the victor, investment should resume right away while investors might wait a little longer if the Democrats return to the scene.” (Nation, Feb 25) “Every educational institution should uphold it’s integrity instead of becoming a puppet in exchange for cash from the government”. Rangsit University Dean of Arts, Anusorn Srikaew on government muzzling of the press. (Nation, Feb 25)
“The actions of both privy councilors have an effect on the prime minister. Why must they join those people?” Samak Sundaravej questions Prem’s neutrality and sparks another debate in the house. (Post, Feb 10) “I have never seen any previous government as corrupt as this one. The premier has abused his power… to benefit his family and allies.” Sondhi addresses nearly 100,000 protestors at Royal Plaza in the largest public protest since the BloodyMay uprising in 1992. (Nation, Feb 5) “Do not be too confident with the 357 votes that you control in the house”. Chamlong proposes to “build a bridge” with a “decent” option for Taksin to donate B26 billion to Thailand’s poor. (Nation, Feb 3) “It is a shame that Taksin has legally but unethically avoided paying tax”. Sen Thongbai Thongpao (Nation, Feb 3) Other news… “Many significant projects put up for tender by the Bangkok city authorities were riddled with illegal and criminal actions and behaviour”. Findings of the commission into 16 road works projects. (Nation, 25 Feb)
“We, the pre-cadet school class 10, don’t want the people to think we’re on the prime ministers side… We are the country’s soldiers, not the government’s soldiers.” Defence ministry Chief of Staff Gen Trairong Intararat (Post, Feb 22)
“I am confident in the transparency and fairness in my work, but I have every right to sue to protect my rights and restore public confidence.” Goveror Apirak accuses DSI of double standards by sitting idle during high profile scandals such as CTX, then implicating him in the e-auction scam. (Post, Feb 11)
“House dissolution is the best option available for the prime minister and is likely to please the anti-Taksin protesters.” Political scientist Prayad Hongthongkham gets it half right. (Nation, 21 Feb)
“There is no new precedent set here … Now tax planners can advise their clients to copy the entire process of these transactions” Extract from a letter from BDO Richfield Advisory Ltd to the Nation (Nation, Feb 7)
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