Thailand Crisis

A very nice Lunacy Of the Day. Consider this :

Minister of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Man Pattanotai yesterday handed over a list of illegal websites including pornographic sites, sites violating copyright laws, gambling sites and sites endangering national security totaling 100 sites to Deputy Commander of the Central Investigative Division of the Police, Police Major General Panya Marmen (ปัญญา มาเม่น) for processing.

Police Major General Panya stated that police would pursue transgressors, including issuing warrants for any site operators located abroad.

Police will also continue cooperating with the ICT to shut down websites in violation of laws after working with the ICT’s various database departments to apprehend a multitude of malicious websites. Authorities revealed that they have been able to process 90% of cases begun in the past year. (PRD)

It’s coming from the propagandstaffel of the government (Public Relation Departement).

It’s difficult to understand, it’s badly written, it’s certainly not reliable, but it’s definitely and highly entertaining.

And its shows the mindset of those people… Scary.

Arrest illegal website operators, even abroad, “processing…“…

You were thinking that a court decision was necessary to block a website, to declare a website “illegal“… apparently the bozos at ICT Ministry and in the police don’t care. At all.

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said he has been folding paper cranes while listening to House debates since he was young.

During his live talk programme on NBT channel, Samak said he would like to tell his critics that there was nothing wrong with the paper crane folding because he concentrated on hearing the debates while folding the papers. (Nation)

This is the quintessence of the cheap rethoric thai politicians love to use, believing that they will subdue their audience.

Let me rephrase, so you can understand better : “I’ve been picking my nose while listening to House debate since I was young ! So you can’t accuse me for picking my nose now. I didn’t change. Therefore you’re wrong“.

In a way, that’s why Samak is fascinating : he’s a pig and he’s extremely proud of it.

Holly Molly ! I’ve managed to put two pictures of a hot chick on this blog ! I thought I’d never make it.

Now I can quietly wait for the traffic to grow. Exponentially of course. It’s more interesting than charts about oil consumption or trade deficit, right ?

Allez, back to topic and let’s hit one more time the thai police (it’s sunday, God’s day, even though it’s really too easy).

So the Finest have found another matter of public security to care of, and with their high sense of duty, they went on “fifth gear” mode to tackle the “problem” (because there is a problem, a big one).

So this time, what’s the fuss about ?

A girl… hum… 19 years old… hum… Chinese living in Beijing… hum… her skin is soooooo white… hum… who wants to raise money, apparently, to save the earth quake victims… by uploading wink-wink pictures on her blog… hum… She’s now a celebrity in China. Fair enough. She’ll get a good husband.

But… what’s the point with the Royal Thai Police ? !

Public security, I told you ! And possibly, national security.

Police are monitoring a Chinese website on which a girl posts her nude pictures to raise funds for Sichuan earthquake victims. Pol Maj-Gen Wisut Wanichbutr, commander of the Economic and Technology-related Crime Suppression Division (ETCSD), said 19-year-old Xiao Yun’s website is creating a buzz in the cyber community, but it might be illegal.

ETCSD inspector Pol Lt-Col Panya Cha-emthes said the distribution or display of nude pictures is subject to prosecution under the computer crime law passed this year.

Webmasters of such sites are liable for a jail term of up to five years and/or a fine of up to 100,000 baht.

Those who duplicate the pictures and post them online will also be punished.

Ms Xiao caused a media sensation in her country after she displayed hundreds of pictures showing herself in lingerie and in the nude on the website to raise cash for the victims of the May 12 earthquake in Sichuan province. (Bangkok Post)

Is it clear ? If you visit this website or if you copy and send the pictures to your friends by e-mail, you’ll be punished.

Believe me, the Royal Thai Police knows very well how to answer the “call of duty” when it’s necessary (or could it be “call of nature” ?)

Surapong, Finance Minister and deputy prime minister, told a seminar entitled “The Energy Crisis: Thailand’s Economic Scenario”, hosted by Krungthep Turakij, that middle-path economic policies were necessary at this time, based on Lord Buddha’s Kalamasutra lesson, so that the problem was managed properly.

“Our past beliefs must be examined to see if they are suitable for the current situation. Many things that happened in the past do not necessary repeat themselves now. We must not be held back by the old beliefs,” he told the audience.

He insisted he was not critical of the Bank of Thailand, which inclines towards higher interest rates to tackle inflation, but said the central bank must not attach itself to the old theories and should instead welcome new ideas. (Nation)

Let’s see… The BOT is willing to increase rates… But Surapong says that the BOT must welcome new ideas…

Is it like a… pressure on the central bank ? You fool, of course not ! The BOT is independent ! I mean it’s written in the law. And we all know that the law is sacred in Thailand.

Furthermore, what would be those “new ideas” to fight inflation ? What would do Lord Buddha in this situation ? Hum… tricky question.

Last word : I’m wondering if Surapong thinks that his “boost” policy and other “stimulus packages” are… what he calls… “middle-path economic policies” ?

Another perfectly normal day in Thailand.

If you missed the saga of the “Pastrygate”, read here.

So where are we today ?

-2 lawyers in jail for 6 months
-1 “in the nature”… everybody is looking for him, even though he said that he was not hiding.
-and of course, we have an ongoing investigation now to find out who gave the money and for what purposes, if the money was really a bribe.

For that matter, the Finest (nickname for the Royal Thai Police), are in the starting blocks, like a bunch of horses on heavy dope before a race…

Amnuay Nimmano, commander of Metropolitan Police Division 1, said his subordinates would need about a month to find out if Mr Thaksin was connected to the cash-laden snack pack given to a court official on June 10. (Bangkok Post)

Two comments :

-One month would be like a world record for the thai police…

-I’m wondering if they could use some… hard methods to find out the truth, like in the South for instance (have a look on the report of Human Rights Watch here or another one there).
I’m mean it should be easy to make the lawyer talking, no ?

Of course not, that’s against the law. Better to trust the skills of the Royal Thai Police…

See you in one month for the result of this investigation… And don’t forget to bring the popcorn.

That’s the beauty of Thailand : humor and irony (often black) are everywhere.

Former Labour Department boss and Cabinet minister Wichit Saengthong has pleaded not guilty to several labour-law offences, including participating in job-seeking scams that conned 200 workers of more than Bt3 million.

He was apprehended at a parking area in the Criminal Court compound Thursday. There were three court warrants for his arrest. (Nation)

But wait a minute… Google tells us that… the guy has been previously arrested ! In january 2008 !

Former labour department chief and former minister to the prime minister’s office Vichit Saengthong was yesterday arrested on charges of colluding in arranging overseas jobs without permission and swindling workers seeking employment abroad.

The 76-year-old retired official was arrested at Paholyothin Place Building on Paholyothin road in Phayathai district on charges of colluding to operate a job placement company without authority and swindling workers wanting to work abroad when he was in power.

Mr Vichit yesterday denied all charges. He insisted he had not been involved in the swindle and claimed his house servants had used his name to cash in on people wanting to work abroad.

However, police were not convinced by his comments. He was being detained at Bang Sue police station for further questioning and legal action.

The labour department was under the Interior Ministry before being upgraded to a ministry. (Bangkok Post)

Another perfectly normal day in Thailand.

The Intellectual Property (IP) Department has announced a major Bt15-million crackdown on counterfeit goods and their traders and manufacturers, to help clean up Thailand’s IP image in global markets.

For the first time, the department will cooperate with the Department of Special Investigation and the Customs Department in setting up five special investigation teams and five suppression task forces to operate around the Kingdom.

“Counterfeit goods are a major problem in Thailand,” Deputy Commerce Minister Banyin Tangpaporn said yesterday. “The stringent crackdown on illegal traders and goods will not only improve the country’s image, but also help economic growth, as illegal products create huge losses for the economy.”

He said that within three months of serious suppression starting next month, the country would no longer have illegal products commonly available at trading centres.

Priority areas to be targeted for investigation  will be Panthip Plaza, Klong Thom Market and Patpong Night Market in Bangkok and tourism venues in Chiang Mai, Phuket, Surat Thani, Chon Buri, Songkhla, Krabi and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces.

Banyin said the special investigation teams would try to send all of the cases to court in a bid to destroy manufacturers of illegal products, so that there would be no repeat violations.

The IP Department reported 1,727 cases of IP infringement in the first four months of the year, with the seizure of 570,935 items. (Nation)

Once and for all : stop the thai crap. Cut it. Store it. Forget it.

DVD’s, CD’s, software… are available in many retail shops, everywhere in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Phuket… you name it. EVERYWHERE.

Panthip of course, MBK, Fortune Town on Ratchapisek (floor 2 for software, and 3 for the movies)… in real shops… not only small stalls on Sukhumvit road…

So again, stop the crap.

In every government, a clown vows to “fight“, “defeat” the counterfeiters, blablabla, in 1, 2, 3 months, with the full force of the “law“… blablabla.

So you could ask me : why bother to mention it, every time ? For history.

So people, all around the world, can understand on what level some thai officials are “working” : below the… absolute zero.

[anyway, see you in 3 months]

It’s huge. A Democrat MP, a doctor, attacked Samak wednesday during the second day of the censure debate. This woman is courageous !

Democrat MP Malinee Sukvejworakij, who is a doctor of medicine, told the House that Mr Samak showed symptoms of a mental deficiency and behaviour disorder. He should take leave and get treatment for the sake of the country, she said.

Dr Malinee said there was medical evidence to confirm that his glaring at reporters and ordering cake and red cordial drinks like a child reflected a low IQ and low emotional quotient.

She referred to Mr Samak’s moody look prior to a luncheon with coalition partners early this month.

”A leader needs both mental and physical strength. Mr Samak should take a break to seek medical help,’‘ she said. (Bangkok Post)

I feel compelled to talk about the story (and pictures !) given by Bangkok Pundit… A perfect tidbit for my “Weird-Bigotery” category.

There is a new “Hippy Party” !

They are seriously anti-Thaksin and totally fuming.

It’s a classic. A thai classic. What ? The famous “Third Party”.

If you are a general, a police officer, a minister, or any other official lunatic and that you don’t know what to do or what to say to journalists… you shall use the “Third Party” concept.

The point is : you know of course who is the “Third Party”. But you won’t tell. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be fun, right ?

So here is the “Third Party of The Day”.

Deputy national police chief Jongrak Juthanont admitted Tuesday he has received reports that a third party plans to stir unrest around the Government House, where anti-government group rallies.

Pol Lt Gen Jongrak, however, refused to go into detail who they are. (Bangkok Post)

This deputy police chief is nothing but a clown. A childish clown who lacks self confidence and who probably suffered from a lack of maternal love during his childhood, therefore he needs to feel important, he needs to draw public attention to him.

The “Third Party” theory is the perfect mean.

Anyway his boss, the Interior Minister Chalerm, suffers from exactly the same disease (with even more serious symptoms).

“Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung states that he has received a report on a possible attack by an ill-will group, wishing to interfere with the People’s Alliance for Democracy rally and worsen the current conflict.“

And this group was “the same gang responsible for the New Year’s bomb attack in nine areas throughout the metropolitan“.

He said that on may 30.

Of course you understand that because we still don’t know who was behind this terrorist attack (the case is of course unsolved and never will be) it fits totally the “Third Party” concept.

[if you wish to go deeper into the "Third Party" theory, check this out : the Prime Minister Samak uses it, but with... some nice variations]

Caption (pointless to comment further) : “Despite facing no-confidence debate in the Parliament, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej shows his skill of making paper bird. (Nation)”