June 29, 2006

being a little discouraged by the elphantitis incident, skating in and out of classy private thai hospitals, and not doing much else, i have had the time to try and get a perspective of the political climate in Thailand. Generally there is one thing you can say about Thailand, it doesnt leave a lot left for imagination. Or to say it more bluntly, Thailand is whorehouse with a lot of temples.

Politically, the country is in a strange limbo. Primemisnister Thaksin wisely took a loooong holiday after massive demonstrations especially in Bangkok in the spring of 2006, after numerous charges of corruption and eledge fraud at the election was presented. But no less than two month later Thaksin is entering the political scene head on again, now, in the media bementioned as Caretaker primeminister Thaksin.
One case stands out though. As he became primeminister for the first time, he sold the largest telecommunication company in Thailand - which he owned - for the stunning price of 1200 million baht, and simoultaniously he changed the legislation, so that the sale wasnt taxed.
The oppositon was infuriated, and publicy charged Thaksin for being a bloodsucking leach on the thail soul.
This didnt go down well with Mr. Thaksin - heading a party called Thai Rak Thai, which in thai means thais loves thai, and have dragged the opposition to court for compensation. His demand...800 million baht.
With approximately 60 million people living in Thailand, and Thailand being one of the poorest regions in southeastasia, he could have given every thai indivdual an even million baht withiut loosing a minutes sleep.