Thailand Voice

Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, former PM, chair of the Phuea Thai party and veteran of many events and excursions, has outlined his explanation for seeking assistance from HM the King and, unusually, a summary (with some details) has been printed in The Nation . The argument is that HM the… Read full story >>>

The powerful do not give up their power easily – not without a fight certainly. That has been the guiding principle of the Thai elites who have held on to direct control over the three southern border provinces and have refused even to permit public discussion of any … Read full story >>>

Apologies in advance fellow bloggers. If I am registered as following your blog via Google Friend Connect I will now be unsubscribing. This is not reflect on you, well most of you, but GFC has run its course with me. I subscribe to most blogs in an … Read full story >>>

Have previously blogged on the Chavalit-Prem relationship (Chavalit speaking out here and here ; Prem’s response ), but also thought that Thai Rath had some interesting points in their analysis a few days on the Chavalit-Prem relationship entitled “Just Friends, Not the Son of Uncle Prem” (แค่เพื่อนไม่ใช่ ‘ลูกป๋า’). The analysis notes … Read full story >>>

Yesterday New Mandala ’s Andrew Walker was interviewed on the ABC Radio National breakfast program about politics and the palace in Thailand.  The audio of Andrew’s conversation with Fran Kelly is available here . Read full story >>>

UPDATE : And bumped to 10am The Bangkok Post has a s lightly different take : “A day before he applied to be a Puea Thai member I sent a man to tell him to think carefully,” Gen Prem said. “I used these words ‘think carefully’ before joining otherwise it could end up as an … Read full story >>>

A farang by any other name… Any white foreigner who spends even a few days in Thailand will learn at least one Thai word: ฝรั่ง (farang). It’s being used by Thais to refer to them – whether they’re aware of it or not. Farang is… Read full story >>>

UPDATE : Matichon ’s version was slightly ambigious, but Thai Rath is not. Namely per Thai Rath : Chavalit said that, following the 7 October incident last year, he wanted to meet Prem before becoming ordained as a monk. But he was refused… Read full story >>>

Matichon reports that yesterday Chavalit, Somchai W and former Foreign Minister Sompong (he was seen as a potential leader last year) attended a Puea Thai meeting with the later two being “observers”. Thaksin phoned in to the Puea Thai meeting and said … Read full story >>>

Chavalit, who has staged more comebacks than Britney Spears, is officially re-entering politics again. This time he has joined Puea Thai as The Nation reports : “I have decided to resume my political activities because I can no longer allow the unprecedented … Read full story >>>

I have always hated PayPal. They are scam artists that charge high fees and are always involved in slightly shady business practices. The latest thing though takes the cake. If you follow CNN's Hero of the Year, you'll have seen the Top 10 Heroes … Read full story >>>

UPDATE by BP and bumped to 10am: Talk so far – from Chavalit’s close aide on the record it should be added, has been of Chavalit becoming “chairman” of Puea Thai, in essence, replacing Chalerm (see this tidbit in this post on Chalerm vs Chavalit). One assumes he will not be the party leader at … Read full story >>>

Avudh in The Nation argues that the police have misinterpreted the indictments handed down by the National Anti-Corruption Commission against former PM Somchai W, former Deputy PM Chavalit, Police Chief Patchawarat and another senior police officer Suchart related to last year’s October 7 crackdown on yellow-shirt protesters. Key excerpt: It is the first… Read full story >>>