PAD|People's Alliance for Democracy
This is the unofficial/personal blog site from one PAD member.

Does the New Politics PAD demands need to amend the current Constitution?

In my opinion, the answer is NO. The same answer to most PADs. The Constitution is just a platform telling people roughly what to do and not. However, no matter how good it is, if the moral level of politicians is low, its intention will be twisted and the New Politics aiming by PAD will never be achieved.

It likes when you own a car, you have a manual telling you how to drive wisely and do maintenance. You don’t need to read the manual but you still can drive a car. But If you barely follow it, your car may end up in an accident, dead on a street, or dead at home.

Many people don’t even need to read the manual, but they know exactly what to do to make their car healthy and how to drive it safely. That is what our politicians are lacking of or… Money and power have corrupted them all.

Thaksin, Old Politics VS Apirak, New Politics

Thaksin mentioned in his letter to media earlier after jumping bail in August.

What happened to myself and my family was like the fruit from poisonous trees. The fruit was also poisonous. What I mean is that there has been a continuation of dictatorship in Thai politics under the democratic system. That was followed by interference in the judicial process. My cases have been pre-judged, to get rid of me and my family, who are regarded by a group of people as their political enemies, irrespective of the law and international principles of justice. My family and I have been continually treated unfairly.

Source: BangkokPost.com – Text of Thaksin’s letter to the media

Apirak mentioned this on 12 November at the press conference after the National Anti-Corruption Commission’s ruling that he had committed a legal violation when he authorised payment for the scandal-plagued fire-vehicle procurement project.

Apirak Kosayodhin

“The laws has an intention to refrain me form working until a court verdict is out, which is righteous choice by both the laws and the intention of the Constitution” He continued “The other part is the voice of people demanding to see the new standard of Thai politics which often comparing to foreign politicians“

“I am ready to fight in the judicial system and I am confident in the Thailand’s judicial system that I will receive justice” He finished “I would like to inform you all.. that I am resigning fro my position as a Bangkok governor”

Translated from ThaiPost.net – ความเมือง”บนเส้นด้าย”ปลายปี (by Preaw See Ngern)

“What do you think when put black and white thing next to each other? You can tell from your instinct which one is the political standard and which is brutish politics.” Preaw See Ngern mentioned in his article.

Does Apirak really need to resign?

By laws, Apirak may retain his post until the court announces its ruling. By just refraining from doing his work, Apirak will already show his political responsibility.

However, he announced his resignation to set a standard for politicians.

Source:The Nation – I quit to set political standard : Apirak

Background of this Samak's shit bomb

Background of this Samak’s shit bomb

Apirak has served as Bangkok governor for the past four years. On October 5, 2008 he was re-elected following a landslide victory.

The picture here briefly describes what happened between 2003 and 2006. The 6.68 billion baht deal to purchase new fire engines, fire boats and related equipment dates back to 2004 when Pokin Polakul was interior minister (in Thaksin’s cabinet) overseeing the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, of which Samak Sundaravej was the governor.

The Deal in Question - Source: BangkokPost.com

What happened on and after the last day of Samak’s working as a city governor?

August 31, 2005: Two days after the Bangkok governor election, Mr. Samak sends a letter to Krung Thai Bank to open the L/C for Steyr (the last day of Samak’s working as a city governor)

September 27: Newly elected governor Aphirak Kosayodhin asks the bank to suspend the L/C

September 30: The Foreign Trade Department asks the BMA to honour the agreement. Mr Aphirak approaches the Interior Ministry which says the agreement should be honoured. He then asks the bank to open the L/C

October 12: Mr Aphirak asks the bank to halt the L/C after a petition is filled with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) alleging irregularities in the project

November 5: Mr Pokin tells Mr Aphirak the Commerce Ministry has confirmed the agreement is legitimate.

January 10, 2006: Mr Aphirak asks the bank to reopen the L/C

Source: BangkokPost.com – Aphirak resigns

Why Apirak is guilty : NACC ?

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has given its reasons why Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin, who won the gubernatorial election again on October 5, should be prosecuted for his role in the controversial Bt6.6billion fire-vehicle procurement scandal. It lists four points:

• In his first term as Bangkok governor, Apirak had already learned about alleged irregularities in the procurement project. Apirak had also been aware that the signing of the Agreement of Understanding (AOU) for the project took place without prior review by the Office of the Attorney General, which was against acceptable practice. Instead of ordering a probe, Apirak simply set up a committee to review the procurement detail and to negotiate with the Austrian supplier.
• Apirak cannot claim he allowed the project to go ahead because the Interior Ministry had told him to do so. As the Bangkok governor, he held the full mandate to manage budget for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and he did not have to receive orders from the ministry.
• On January 10, 2005, Apirak signed the Letter of Credit (L/C) authorising the first-instalment payment to the Austrian supplier. The L/C had allowed the purchase contract signed by his predecessor Samak Sundaravej, and the Austrian supplier, to stay in effect. Apirak did so despite knowing the AOU was not made in compliance with the law.
• Apirak later amended many conditions in the L/C in a way that allowed the Austrian supplier to receive the payment. Actions by other political office holders relating to the procurement project had not caused any financial damages to the country until Apirak’s authorisation of the L/C. BMA had already paid about Bt2.35billion to the Austrian supplier under this project, even though none of the vehicles had been used.

The NAAC has concluded that Apirak violated Article 157 of the Criminal Code, which covers abuse of authority or dereliction.

Source: The Nation – Why apirak is guilty

Crooked Politicians in the Old Politics (Update 14/Nov)

MPs from the ruling People Power party (PPP) and Rosana, the senator on October 7 – Credit: tyty1789 from OkNation Blog

I will later update you with the list of those shameless politicians.

But here is some quick examples of them.

On October 7, Bangkok senator Rosana Tositrakul called Somchai to resign because of the bloodshed violent outside the parliament.

Look at how those MPs from the ruling People Power Party harassing her (Do you see the tongue from the guy on the right?)

You can see the whole video clip on Youtube from tyty1789 at OkNation Blog

And look at this news for similar kind of old politics playing by low-grade MPs of the People Power Party

Karun accused of threatening to kick outspoken senator Rosana (The Nation)

Karun Hosakul (left) - The Crooked MPs from PPP (This picture was taken a moment after the headline kick)

This MP, Karun Hosakul was accused twice, and he is still working as a MP.

He made headlines in April when he reportedly kicked outspoken MP Somkiat Pongpaiboon of the opposition Democrat Party during a break in a parliamentary meeting. (The Nation)

The New Politics will sink this type of politicians along with the corrupt system for good.

Making a new platform?

Many PADs are trying to design a new politics which is really intended for Thai people, but nobody knows how that gonna work out in practical. Another military coup?  Ignore some article in the current Constitution? Wait until the Democrat party comes to power? National Reconciliation Government?

I don’t think anybody can get the right answer yet. But for me, as an optimistic person, stepping back a little before other big steps ahead don’t mind me much.

The fight goes on

Crooked politicians with a low political standard are everywhere in Thailand. They are moving parts of the Thaksin Regime, the modern tyrannic system. Without them, the system will collapse and it will be the dawn for the New Politics in Thailand.

Our fight will never end, until then….

This article is inspired by ความเมือง”บนเส้นด้าย”ปลายปี

Related posts:

1. The Thai People’s Declaration to the World