Thaksin seeks peaceful end

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Published: 11 Aug 2012 at 19.22
Online news: Local News

Thaksin Shinawatra is confident his fight for "real democracy" is about to end in peace but says there's a slim chance that a new military coup could push things back to square one.

The fugitive former prime minister made the comments in an exclusive interview with Isra News Agency on Friday evening in San Francisco.Describing current political tensions as "a tug-of-war for democracy", he said that only someone who was on ya ba (methamphetamine) would ever consider leading a new coup to topple the government.Unlike in the past, members of the public were now more actively involved in democratic activities, said Thaksin who was overthrown in the Sept 19, 2006 coup.He gave the interview while having dinner with a group Asian-American businesspeople at a Thai restaurant in North Beach in the northeast of San Francisco.Thaksin was on a trip to the US to meet with his red shirt supporters there, he said.Asked whether the Pheu Thai Party government led by his sister Yingluck should withdraw controversial reconciliation bills amid growing protests by its opponents, Thaksin said there was no need to withdraw the bills.However, there was no need to rush them either, he added.In fact, the bills should be kept in parliament so that the people protesting against them would have to wait outside day and night for fear that they would be passed, said Thaksin half-jokingly. So should the third and final reading of the constitutional amendment bill,...

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massein
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Discussion 31 : 13 Aug 2012 at 09.4131
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maybe he should offer his services as and advisor to President Obama, on how to win the election by 80% He could also give a speech before both houses on how a real democracy should work
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rod266
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Discussion 30 : 12 Aug 2012 at 16.1530
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An interview is about asking in depth probing relevant questions, not letting some meglomaniac reminise and postulate his fantasies.
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dickemery
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Discussion 29 : 12 Aug 2012 at 10.4129
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the problem is corruption here in thailand most of the politicans here havent in studied politics at universty there elected locally by patronage and vote buying means they have unual wealth that they could not explain ,supposingly there access by a commitee on assets declared and if found weong doing there banned for five years and are then forgiven to continue to corupt,they should be banned for life,the ethics is a disgrace TC is a example of whats wrong in politics here we hope and pray this devious person will eventuaslly be found out by his followers as just a crook
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franklin
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Discussion 28 : 12 Aug 2012 at 10.2028
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Well, it’s easy to understand this ‘exclusive interview’ with the Thai Isra News Agency (ISRA University Press Development Foundation of Thailand) based out of Bangkok, Thailand. Thaksins being in the US means nothing to citizens of the US with most probably scratching their head upon hearing his name correctly pronounced (toxin) and thinking the question is regarding an environmental issue (pollution, maybe). As stated in other discussions, until Thaksin is interviewed by a prominent news bureau while in the US, I’ll have my doubts.
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abbub
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Discussion 27 : 12 Aug 2012 at 10.1527
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TRAVELER 99 The INTENTION is to keep other people's minds trained on Taksin, so their thoughts will not stray and start looking at the real culprits, the generals who carried out the anti-constitutiona and illegal coup of 2006, the PAD who brought down two more elected governments with the military standing by.

By keeping everyone;s energy focused on TS the hope is those from the right wing will be able top deflect attention away from the other things wrong in society, and make it appear the coup had honorable intentions. Which it did not.
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globalcynk
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Discussion 26 : 12 Aug 2012 at 08.2526
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Thaksin's definition of democracy is whatever he wants and says. Actually that's totalitarianism, dictatorship. Anyway he's wrong that Thailand's biggest problem is lack of “real democracy.” The biggest problem by far is abject corruption, greed and arrogance
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faceless
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Discussion 25 : 12 Aug 2012 at 08.0825
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D13 and Thaksin beware.

Insanity has a gift for shining its own light on the insane.
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bkk-farang
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Discussion 24 : 12 Aug 2012 at 06.5424
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Once upon a time there was this German millionaire. He traveled around the world and wherever he went he demanded Schnitzel, Wurst, Eisbein und Sauerkraut. He got the best they had in every country and he always had a lot of company – he paid the bill for all. But some people asked: Why does he travel the world? He could get better food and even fresh brewed beer in Germany? Other people knew that he is scared of returning because many people in his home country hate him because he is only rich because he was a very corrupt politician. Everybody agreed that he is a real sad case and they left him alone with his suffering.
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fundeena
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Discussion 23 : 12 Aug 2012 at 06.1123
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More likely his government will implode from corruption and incompetence.
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nui
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Discussion 22 : 12 Aug 2012 at 02.1622
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His so called friends in Thailand keep his hope for a return alive, because as long as Thaksin has his hopes, he will send money to Thailand. That is why many of his friends do not really like him to come back. Because they fear, that the money flow will stop as soon as he returns. They are all very smart and know that this cow can be milked more easily as long as he stays abroad. They have no choice but to keep the whitewash bills on the agenda, otherwise the money flow will stop. They are milking the cow as long as they can.
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