SG may lose Thai training camp
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Well you said it, it was politics alright and it got nothin to do with CSB being charged or not. Hell, Beijing will always be pissed (with Taiwan) if the 5 stars is not flown over the Presidential Palace in Taiwan!Originally posted by bangkokboy:...Mr Chen Shui Bian was not charged in any courts if I was not wrong, is it something to do with politics? If there was no political reasons behind the protest then what was it? ...Haha, I would do that if you could share what Singapore has to gain from siding with Thaksin. I ONLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT SINGAPORE HAS TO GAIN. I am not saying the coup is good, Thaksin is nice, all I am asking for Singapore is to distance herself from Thaksin.
I believe the latest turn of events is due to some communication breakdown between Sing & Bangkok. Look the authorities here may have thought that by informing Bangkok of Thaksin's visit beforehand and when nothin was heard from Bangkok, we may have deemed the visit is ok. BUT, the lack of reply (from Bangkok) could be due to Bangkok's indecision on how to respond ('Yes' or 'no' to such a visit), so when the visit took place (amid Bangkok's decision), Bangkok was 'lost' and cry foul which may have shocked Sing (remember 'silence' = 'consent' or 'no opposition to such a visit'?). Therefore, Bangkok's reaction was not expected, therefore the issue of 'how' and 'should' Sing distanced Thaksin' was not arised' here I believed.
My take from you here is different. You were upset on why Sing allowed Thaksin in in the 1st place. My take is , remember the upheavels that were happening against Thaksin when he was premier? And somehow, Temasek Holdings even made the decision to buy into Shin Corp at the same time even when the commercial terms are favourable. I was shocked that how come no one in Temasek Holdings did not see such a acquisition will be hugely controversial and unacceptable in Thailand esp during the calls that Thaksin is using his premiership to abuse power, generating policies that is favourable to his family biz etc. Mind you, one do not need a crystal ball to look into the future and no expert to tell TH that things are not going well for Thaksin during that time.
It is akin to you don't need an expert to tell you that major powers is not in favour of NK having a nuclear bomb and yet you signed a commercial agreement exporting uranium to that country! duh! Know what I mean?
On a personal note, kudos to you on quoting Thomas Paine. Well done. -
But we will have Hainan meimeisOriginally posted by Advante_101:
cannot eat anymore calamari with prawns with pork cutlet and chicken nuggets french fries with rice for $3 liao 
, beef noodles, hainan chicken rice, and more! 
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Yes, you are right. From my observations, the king is old already and no longer has the energy or back bone to do the things he want.Originally posted by OO_OO_OO:o rly?
you're a thai?
that general is quite power hungry. but he knows that the thai ppl respect the king. so the only way is to suck the king if he wants support. And the king wont want trouble my disagreeing with the army chief. makes sense?
doesnt? why dont u offer your explanation?
the king wasnt on any bad terms with thaksin why would he allow the elected president to be outsted so easily?
So, when the general wants the coup, he only can say he will support.
From me, it is just not possible for the King to dispose Thaksin as he has many many many many supporters from the North. Cuz Thaksin cares and gives back to the poorer north people.
Maybe the king the ear is light (i.e. gives in to rumours spread by the general and his ka-kia's easily).
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Say, if you were to show him around Sentosa, let me know yah...I would like to shake his hands. Why? C'mon, he's the one who brought Thailand out of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis and gave Thailand the much needed boost to their economy during those difficult times. Hey! You have to give that man credit!Originally posted by bangkokboy:...Hell if he wants to go Sentosa I would even offer to show him around, but do you agree that the meeting with our DPM was kinda unnecessary?
P/s There was once I met an Israeli ex-IAF personnel in my previous job, and when he told me he fought in the Yom Kippur War, I shook his hands with more vigour than I did previously when I met him!...it's politics. Damn it I hate politics...
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Cheers man, yeah we were both right on certain issues and somewhat biased on some. The Thailand Government was not wrong in showing their displeasure, but that doesn't mean they should over-react... hope all turns out well.Originally posted by Black Aces:I believe the latest turn of events is due to some communication breakdown between Sing & Bangkok. Look the authorities here may have thought that by informing Bangkok of Thaksin's visit beforehand and when nothin was heard from Bangkok, we may have deemed the visit is ok. BUT, the lack of reply (from Bangkok) could be due to Bangkok's indecision on how to respond ('Yes' or 'no' to such a visit), so when the visit took place (amid Bangkok's decision), Bangkok was 'lost' and cry foul which may have shocked Sing (remember 'silence' = 'consent' or 'no opposition to such a visit'?). Therefore, Bangkok's reaction was not expected, therefore the issue of 'how' and 'should' Sing distanced Thaksin' was not arised' here I believed.
My take from you here is different. You were upset on why Sing allowed Thaksin in in the 1st place. My take is , remember the upheavels that were happening against Thaksin when he was premier? And somehow, Temasek Holdings even made the decision to buy into Shin Corp at the same time even when the commercial terms are favourable. I was shocked that how come no one in Temasek Holdings did not see such a acquisition will be hugely controversial and unacceptable in Thailand esp during the calls that Thaksin is using his premiership to abuse power, generating policies that is favourable to his family biz etc. Mind you, one do not need a crystal ball to look into the future and no expert to tell TH that things are not going well for Thaksin during that time.
It is akin to you don't need an expert to tell you that major powers is not in favour of NK having a nuclear bomb and yet you signed a commercial agreement exporting uranium to that country! duh! Know what I mean?
On a personal note, kudos to you on quoting Thomas Paine. Well done.
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eh?Originally posted by bangkokboy:Haha, I am a Singaporean who happens to question the Singapore Government's diplomatic moves.
Nobody now knows for sure whether Thaksin is guilty or not, but siding with Thaksin will not help Singapore in anyway. When you make a political decision, you make it for the good of the country, not because you want someone to practise freedom of speech and whatever.
I don't care if Thailand moves backwards due to the coup, I just want to know why the Singapore Government made such a huge boo-boo. Not quite leh...i mean, Singapore so big, like are we supposed to watch Thaksin's every move?
If he wants to talk to CNN, then its CNN's problems, and the thai govt should go and say bad things about CNN what, or the US. Not singapore???
And there's nothing wrong with singapore admiting him in also, if its wrong, the the US machiam wrong big time? for allowing him to stay there?
All the points highlighted by Ace are very valid in my opinion. -
The problem was Singapore's stance. It was insensitive. Fullstop.
Thaksin did not only stay in Singapore. There were some other things he did, do read my previous post. Anyway I am sick of talking about Thaksin, let's not care about him.
Time for Tom Yam Kung.
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Facts are facts. Thaksin guilty or innocent is not known yet, but the fact is that Thaksin managed to get interviewed in Singapore and managed to meet up with a Cabinet Minister in Singapore.
We are trying to be democratic, if we don't accept Thaksin we he arrives in SG, then the human rights group will throng on us.
As i said, this is a freak incident. How are we to know that he will be approached by CNN in SG? Are we to pre-empt Thaksin's every move??
My english might not be as good as you guys, but I just wish to ask what good does Singapore get out of hosting Thaksin? Is there anything we get to gain from this?
We are not hosting him.... But just that he is free to go any where he likes right? We cannot bar him from SG wat, as what ACE said, he is not in the list of terrorist or Thailand govt never send out circulars to all Nations that Thaksin is not supposed to enter any country?
If you even have the slightest hint that your actions will anger someone and you choose to carry out that action, you are asking for retaliatory actions. -
Guys, there are special guys in special places taking care of special people. Think about it. He is not Mr Common People. He is Mr Thaksin.
Again I would like to say he is not wrong. He has every right to be here, but the meeting was uncalled for. Singapore's response to Thailand's displeasure could be better. And lastly, I would hope that any discussions regarding the King be stopped. He should not be insulted, we are gentlemen and we should respect what he has done for the people of Thailand.
Cheers. -
Hey take a chill pill guys, I don't even think this is really about Singapore to begin with. The bottom line is that the dear Thai general is going out of his way to make things tough for Taskin', sending out a message to all potential quarters in the region to render him non grata.
If this really distills down to acts that will be mutally bad on Thai and Sing economics remains to be seen. I wonder if he'll really go there, to mess up more economic ties over a person who is basically... powerless to do anything against his regime. Does not seem very smart.
He's really just making noise if anything, though I don't really agree with the way he goes about it. There are better ways to skin a cat. -
In my prev job, I met a former CIA officer, who was a tunnel rat ( i think) when he served in the vietnam war. I was... "awestruck"!Originally posted by Black Aces: -
that lousy king of theirs is way pass his bed time in their royal cemetery....Originally posted by bangkokboy:Guys, there are special guys in special places taking care of special people. Think about it. He is not Mr Common People. He is Mr Thaksin.
Again I would like to say he is not wrong. He has every right to be here, but the meeting was uncalled for. Singapore's response to Thailand's displeasure could be better. And lastly, I would hope that any discussions regarding the King be stopped. He should not be insulted, we are gentlemen and we should respect what he has done for the people of Thailand.
Cheers. -
Stop insulting the king manz u motherfu-ckers...
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Yeah! Elvis contributed greatly to the music scene okay! Long Live the King!
"You ain't nothing but a hound dog!" -
Come on, we shouldn't be insulting their king. He is a good head of state who help unite Thailand in the worse of times. He should be given credit and respected for that.Originally posted by tripwire:that lousy king of theirs is way pass his bed time in their royal cemetery.... -
Yes, please no more insults, especially to their King...
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wow..... if he is so important to you... why dont you go and lick his balls...Originally posted by Advante_101:Stop insulting the king manz u motherfu-ckers... -
but it was thaksin that drag thailand and his sorry ass from the asian financial crisis...Originally posted by tankee1981:Come on, we shouldn't be insulting their king. He is a good head of state who help unite Thailand in the worse of times. He should be given credit and respected for that.
and this is how he repays the man who brought relief to his people... by supporting a military that overthrew a govt that was elected by his people... aint that nice... for a buddist and a king of the people...
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Well, lets put things this way
a) Singapore and Thailand are both sovereign states, yes no?
b) Thaksin has a passport
c) The current Thai authorities did not have an arrest warrant over his head nor suspend his national passport, they only took away his diplomatic passport.
d) As a free Thai citizen Thaksin has the freedom to travel anywhere
e) I believe the MFA did notify the relevant Thai authorities
Sorry for reiterating various points but putting it together hopefully can get a clearer picture. Singapore like Thailand and the rest of ASEAN states value our independence as a nation, if Thaksin chooses to visit Singapore on a private visit as a free individual we have no reason to reject his entry. As for accusations of insensitivity, didn't we notify the Thai authorities beforehand of his intentions to meet the DPM? If we were to back down on this, what sort of signal is it sending to the other countries? That Singapore can be bullied into compromising issues of our sovereignty like who we allow to enter into our country? Especially when the person in question is legally (though not morally perhaps) a free man? The issue with Thaksin is one of Thai domestic politics and do not involve our diplomatic relations and nor should we implicate the King. Its a matter of the men in charge simply over reacting especially when the credibility of the coup is being questioned the longer the probes drag on without much of a result
Losing the basing rights is of course of regret if Thailand so chooses, and if that occurs we will have to accept that as their right. However it will do no good to any side to continue in such a manner and we should all just move on -
Why dun u go lick ur mother chee-bye uneducated vagina 1stOriginally posted by tripwire:wow..... if he is so important to you... why dont you go and lick his balls... -
Tell me how did Thaksin drag thailand's ass out of Asian Economic Crisis?Originally posted by tripwire:but it was thaksin that drag thailand and his sorry ass from the asian financial crisis...
and this is how he repays the man who brought relief to his people... by supporting a military that overthrew a govt that was elected by his people... aint that nice... for a buddist and a king of the people...
PROVE IT TO ME. -
You in my humble opinion are just a jackass seeking attention. At least people has a reason to respect the King, you on the other hand, deserve our condemnation.Originally posted by tripwire:that lousy king of theirs is way pass his bed time in their royal cemetery.... -
Oh come on, no need to insult each other.
King or no King, the govt in Thailand is illegitimate until a fair election takes place. Singapore has no need to even pay heed nor to inform Thailand of Thaksin being in Singapore. Yet out of courtesy and sensitivity, we still did.
End of the day, we still get pelted with rotten eggs.
Honestly, if Thaksin did so little for Thailand, why does the military govt fear so much of Thaksin's supporters rising up against them? What did he do to gain so much popularity in Thailand?
Its almost strange that the Thai people willingly accept the coup just cos the King says its alright.
"You ain't nothing but a hound dog..." -
Singapore's reply was like," Thaksin can do whatever he like, he can even meet our DPM, we don't care what you say dude, so F off..."Originally posted by Shotgun:Oh come on, no need to insult each other.
King or no King, the govt in Thailand is illegitimate until a fair election takes place. Singapore has no need to even pay heed nor to inform Thailand of Thaksin being in Singapore. Yet out of courtesy and sensitivity, we still did.
End of the day, we still get pelted with rotten eggs.
Honestly, if Thaksin did so little for Thailand, why does the military govt fear so much of Thaksin's supporters rising up against them? What did he do to gain so much popularity in Thailand?
Its almost strange that the Thai people willingly accept the coup just cos the King says its alright.
"You ain't nothing but a hound dog..."
I may be crude, flame me if you guys want. -
A few comments from a newcomer.
1) Is it possible for someone in official position to present himself as a private citizen for his activities? For example can the Japanese PM visit the Yasukuni Shrine as a private citizen while holding the office? If yes, then the Chinese and Koreans have no ground to condemn any Japanese PM from visiting their shrine as a private citizen. If no, then the Chinese had grounds when they protested against LHL private visit to Taiwan. Similarly, the Thais have ground to be unhappy for a 'dissident' to visit our DPM privately.
2) Can we stop someone holding a legal passport and not formally restricted by his country in anyway to be interviewed by a foreign press legally stationed in Singapore? No, if there is no legal grounds. Unless subversive (against Singapore) speech was given, then there is again nothing wrong.
3) The Singapore government's is to provide and protect the best of interests to Singapore. There are no eternal friends, only everlasting benefits. We may never know if Thaksin will ever become a PM again since he has a strong support base in the north and he still wants to be a member of the TRT party.
4) The Singaporean officials should have already calculated and weighted the benefits and fallouts of this particular event before hand. I would say, as per SOP since this is not the first time and will not be the last. LHL's private visit to Taiwan created some issues. I would say, everything is within 'tolerance' and control.
5) The current Thai king is only next to Budhha in the heart of the Thais. No one can survive in the kingdom if he speaks ill of the royal family, especially the king. He exerts crucial influence in politics through his privy counsellors who are mostly former PMs and top military commanders. He has done many things for his people, if not they would not have revered him so much. He is a strong supporter of democracy and constitution monarchy. He just wants what he thinks are good for his people, and being more wealthy without is not necessary a good thing.