Deconstructing Sopon Onkgara: Blaming Thaksin for his own Crazy Obsession over Thaksin

The Nation:


Thaksin spent the entire day telephoning people who organised the parties. At one point, he even sang a song expressing his sadness over his misfortunes, but he expected he would return some day. That's a long shot. Who knows? What he sang could be a swan song, judging from the freak nature of the various superstitious ceremonies blessed by monks.

The low turnout was not noted by the media. Reports highlighted what happened, who did and said what. This was a freak show that served Thaksin's purpose well. He loves to be in the news so people will not forget him. Being ignored or forgotten is something he cannot accept.
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The fugitive lives on, spending time each day on the telephone, talking with relatives, red-shirt ringleaders and thugs, so that his pep talks will keep them fighting on his behalf. Never mind the decay that the country suffers due to his relentless badmouthing - with only a lukewarm response from the Abhisit administration.

The "big surprise" following the freak show was his plan to open a 100-channel TV network. Another pie-in-the-sky promise for the poor folk and gullible grassroots supporters, the usual victims of his soft sell, half-truths and spin. Earlier, he boasted about venturing into gold mining, diamond mining and other ambitious plans. Nothing has materialised so far.

How come Thaksin can keep himself in the news while the Democrats have been on their toes since Prime Minister Abhisit took office six months ago? The fugitive has spotted a weak point in the administration, which continues to engage in nonsensical much ado about nothing, not to mention its obvious lack of a sense of urgency in tackling the prevailing crises.

By the same token, Thaksin covers his weak spot, keeping it away from the harpoon. He airs grievances about his plight and his self-proclaimed innocence despite being proven guilty in court. By poking fun at the trouble-plagued administration, he shows time and again he is the only real fixer in time of national crisis.


Sopon blames Thaksin for his own incessant ranting about Thaksin. Sopon is free not to say anything about Thaksin at anytime. He chooses to feed the propaganda beast and his own sick co-dependent relationship.

Typically, Sopon can't but help insult the majority for Thai people who don't think like him.

I guess everybody would be enlightened only if they read The Nation and ASTV/Manager.

Sopon only proves with his columns that the people are right not to goose step behind him.

Thaksin didn't say anything nasty about the government, but Sopon purposely chooses to ignore the facts.


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As the government weakens and Abhisit becomes soft due to a lack of control over the entire administration, these signs have been detected by Thaksin and his campaigners. This only makes them more audacious and bolder in seeking another confrontation with the coalition, now limping due to lacklustre performance and lack of real achievement.

True. But Abhisit has nobody to blame for his failures except himself.

It's true that the government is facing a crisis of unprecedented magnitude. There have been two attempts on the PM's life by red-shirted thugs, a full-scale riot in the city, in addition to the multi-faceted economic malaise. Yet part of the blame must be directed at Cabinet members and, of course, his deputy in charge of national affairs.

Sopon just making things up again. The Nation must have gotten the Manager memo: Keep blaming Suthep. Suthep is a stooge of Thaksin. Suthep and company are out out to get the pure and innocent Abhisit.

The weakness is clearly seen by all, and is the reason for growing frustration among those who had high expectations of Abhisit's government.

Why would anybody with ounce of rationality have high expectations for Abhisit? Just because he has an Oxford degree and posh accent? The Nation must have gotten carried away with Obama's "hope and change" mantras and decided to project that onto Abhisit.

A serious obstacle has been the neglect or lack of courage in removing top civil servants and executives in key state-owned units, despite their flawed track records and their loyalty to Thaksin.

Of course, Sopon refuses to tell us about these secret agents of Thaksin thwarting Abhisit's government. He was blaming these agents back in the Surayud government as well.

Finance minister, Korn Chatikavanij, is letting Thaksin's cronies run the show in the money and stock markets amid blatant violations of the rules relating to insider trading, price manipulation and other shenanigans such as front running in stock deals. These people have impeded the due process of law and twisted judicial investigations, allowing culprits to retain their positions and destroy potential evidence.

Again, no evidence. Not one shred of evidence. Not one piece of reporting in his own newspaper he can he refer to.

What should we expect from now on? More offensive moves by Thaksin and his cronies with the help of civil servants in powerful positions.

A unproven conspiracy under every rock.

If Abhisit continues with recalcitrance and vacillation, his overall indecisiveness will shorten his term, with the stronger likelihood that politics will get bogged down in the gutter - with the nation trapped in peril.

What is Abhisit supposed to do?

Deconstructing Sopon Onkgara: Justifying PAD Terrorism, Again

FBI definition of Terrorism:

The unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a Government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.


Arab Definition of Terrorism:

Any act or threat of violence, whatever its motives or purposes, that occurs in the advancement of an individual or collective criminal agenda and seeking to sow panic among people, causing fear by harming them, or placing their lives, liberty or security in danger, or seeking to cause damage to the environment or to public or private installations or property or to occupying or seizing them, or seeking to jeopardize a national resources.


The Thai definition of Terrorism(Bangkok Pundit):

Section 135/1 A person commits an act which is a criminal offence [if they commit one] of the following:

(1) [The person] commits an act of violence, or commits any act which causes harm to [a person's] life, or serious harm to [a person's] body, or the liberty of any person,

(2) [The person] commits an act causing serious damage to a public transportation system, a telecommunications system, or to any infrastructure which has a public benefit, [or]

(3) [The person] commits an act causing damage to the property of any state, or of any person, or to the environment which has caused or is likely to cause significant economic damage.

If such acts are committed with the intention to threaten, or to compel the Thai Government, a foreign government, or an international organisation to do or abstain from doing any act which will cause serious damage or to cause disorder by creating widespread fear among the public [then] that person has committed a terrorist act.

[That person] shall be punished by death, life imprisonment or a term of imprisonment between three years to twenty years, and a fine between 60,000 Baht to 1,000,000 Baht.

Even though it clear that the PAD acted in a terrorist like fashion, Sopon believes that the PAD is this innocent organization above Thai law, because anything it does is justified in getting Thaksin.


From The Nation:


Are there really at least 25 "terrorists" out there roaming freely, many of them appearing on television regularly? The city police have said so and have asked them to show up at the Police Club on July 16 to face multiple criminal charges. Until that day the police apparently do not regard these "terrorists" as a clear and present danger to the general public. They are acting cool and confident over the whole matter.


The 25 "terrorists" are among those who occupied the front area of Suvarnabhumi Airport - the passenger drop zone, to be precise - in early December. During that siege - complete with food and live music in an atmosphere of camaraderie - the police claimed the "terrorists" had posed a threat to security at the airport.


Sopon conveniently forgets to add that the PAD took over the airport control tower. Seriously, what kind of idiot would think that it is perfectly OK to take over the lobby or front section of an airport and not think it was a breach of security? The Nation will do everyting humanly possible to justify the PAD's crimes in the name of getting Thaksin. Ironic, isn't it? Thaksin is a criminal, but it is OK to be a criminal to get a criminal. I don't know how these people look at themselves in the mirror in the morning. Their entire professional lives are built upon intellectual inconsistency.


The terrorism charge, which carries death as the maximum penalty, is deemed necessary by some senior police officers loyal to fugitive ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra because it would get rid of the PAD leaders, his adversaries and critics.


This is the same Sopon who believes in using coups, military propaganda, the Interior Ministry, and a corrupt court system to do everything in their power outside the law to get Thaksin. And he doesn't provide one shred of evidence that these police are loyal to Thaksin. In the world of Sopon and The Nation, if the police follow the law, yet doesn't support their political allies by letting off the hook for their crimes, then you must be a Thaksin stooge.


Kasit has been regarded as an inherent threat to Thaksin, who has to dodge around in his leased jet to evade Interpol and extradition. That's why the red shirts and Pheu Thai demand Kasit's immediate resignation, despite the fact that the terrorism charge is as flimsy as a negligee. What's more, the police have yet to substantiate their charge with solid evidence. It is also a long way from a court trial, even if this charge is ever accepted as a prima facie case


The entire world saw the PAD take over the Phuket airport, Suvarnabhumi, and Don Muang. It was plastered all over the TV and in the newspapers. Anybody can see the YouTube videos. And Kasit admitted to the international press he willingly took part in it all! Just how stupid does Sopon think his readership is? No wonder The Nation is losing its shirt. It lives in its own fantasy world.

It is odd that the police have decided to hurl the terrorism charge at these political demonstrators. Not that they were not aware of its possible backfiring; the necessity was dictated by selective and biased practices, as has been pointed out by the defence lawyers for the PAD.


Earlier, the city police slapped a charge of treason on some of these people, only for it to be dumped by the Criminal Court when the PAD leaders brought it to the attention of the bench. Red-faced but still motivated by politics and the coercive persuasion of Thaksin's cronies, the city police must let this particular charge be decided by the public prosecutors and probably the Criminal Court.


Anybody who doesn't agree with Sopon or the PAD is a Thaksin crony. The law is crystal clear. The PAD committed an act of terrorism under Thai law.

The airport seizure was overshadowed and surpassed in terms of severity by the Songkran riots and acts of terror committed by red-shirted thugs. The present government had to impose a state of emergency and ordered troops to end the disturbances. Subsequently the red-shirt leaders faced criminal charges and several of them spent a brief period in confinement.


Thanks Sopon for acknowledging the double standards between the Reds and Yellows. By the way, there was a state of emergency for the PAD also. Your friends and patrons in the military chose to ignore it.

Quite simple: Two of the red-shirt leaders are also House members and are enjoying freedom of movement due to a bail agreement. If they want Somkiat out, it means they will have to leave the House and lose their princely salaries as well. So far the police have not charged them with terrorism despite their role as instigators of the red-shirt thugs who wreaked havoc on some parts of the city.


Should Kasit resign? Judging from the recent standards of practice of the city police and the erosion of public trust in their performance, it would be a futile exercise to yield to pressure from the opposition. There have been other acts of terrorism, such as the firing of grenades at the PAD rallies, which caused at least four deaths and many casualties. These incidents are ignored or overlooked by the police.


Just how stupid is Sopon? Does he even bother to read his own writing? Out of one side of his mouth, he champions and defends the PAD and their leadership for their terrorism, yet thinks the Red should get hit with the book for their crimes. I don't know how this guy can live with himself. He is a walking contradiction.

Deconstructing Sopon Onkgara: Barbarians at the Gate

The Nation


Tomorrow will see the beginning of suspense and tension for the entire country, when people watch how many red-shirted protesters take to the streets, intending to carry out their mission to force out key members of the Privy Council and topple the Abhisit Cabinet. If this plan is successful, the red-shirted people can roll out a red carpet to welcome their patron, Thaksin Shinawatra, back to Government House.


Can this battle plan of Thaksin and his red shirts achieve the desired goal? The chances remain dim, despite the apparent lack of a plan for a decisive response and counter-strike by the Democrats after a week of watching the barbarians at the gate.

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The Democrats are panicking, but they still profess to be unperturbed by the swelling political crisis which threatens to push the country's economy into a deeper chasm if the street demonstrations escalate into violence, as predicted by many. Bloodletting cannot be ruled out because that would be the ultimate cause for a change of government.

As of yesterday, the public remained dumbstruck by the lack of response from the government, chiefly the Democrats, who look more and more like the victims of over-confidence and their own earlier complacency.

They may appear a bit more honest than the barbarians at the gate, whose bosses have had their days in government. Still, the obvious weakness displayed through inaction and lack of a battle plan is inexplicable. There should be a survival instinct among the battle-hardened Democrats.

The repeated calls by supporters for the Democrats to counter Thaksin's intense accusations have fallen on deaf ears. What they should do is simply broadcast the truth of Thaksin's long years of massive corruption, abuse of power and a wide range of misdeeds. They do nothing.

Why doesn't The Nation publish all those investigative reports on Thaksin's corruption that it had to sit on because of his pressure on the media?

That's right. They don't have any.

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No matter how events unfold, the country's economy will take longer to recover, and a lot will depend on public confidence in the government. Thaksin stands little chance of achieving victory in his final battle. If he is defeated, it will be difficult for Hun Sen to shelter him. The last thing he may have to pay dearly for is his life.


Typical Sopon hysteria.

Taking a look at the headlines, The Nation is in full shameless propaganda mode.

The sick irony is that The Nation's editors believe the Democrats and the military should use all the techniques that they condemned Thaksin for to defeat Thaksin.

Deconstructing Sopon Onkgara: Hysterical Xenophobia, Double Standards and Coup Advocate

Is our country run by bunch of outlaws?

By Sopon Onkgara

The Nation

THE quality of our public office holders, political and civilian, has plummeted to a new low. There is a general perception that our country is being run by a team of outlaws in a hurry to enrich themselves with taxpayers' money.


These desperados are meaner than the meanest we have seen in recent years. This time around, they simply show no respect for the law of the land, starting with the Constitution. They will not give a second thought to breaking the law to further their self-serving interests.


Sopon has respect for the constitution? He was eager to tear the last one up and it seems he wants to do away with this one as well. See last two paragraphs.

Not only that, their track records are tainted, their performance in office is sloppy and inept, their level of morality is despicably disdainful. On second thoughts, what can we expect from these desperados who want to sell the country to foreign investors?

What has been sold off to foreign investors?

We used to talk and hear about traitors in no certain terms. We even doubted whether there were such individuals, especially those elected by the people, who would have the nerve to betray the public trust and their motherland for money.

Sopon is a joke. I guess when The Nation begs for that strategic partner/ foreign investor money that is a different story.

Not any more. There are more than just a few corrupt people - in the government, the civil service and in the private sector - who form an axis of evil perpetuating the vicious circle that plagues our gutter politics.

The Nation is part of that axis of evil.

They are shameless, immoral and treacherous. In the past, self-serving politicians and civil servants were corrupt, but at least they did not want to be perceived as traitors, opening doors for foreign counterparts, who are their equal, and their dubious ventures.

I guess I have missed those articles where foreign criminals and mafiosa are heavily investing in Thailand's strategic industries and national assets. Or maybe Sopon is confused with Thaksin's investments in the UK.

Right now, betrayal of the public trust has become all too common. Just a few days after taking a ministerial position, a businessman-turned-politician declared that he wanted to amend relevant laws to allow foreigners to own land as a means to stimulate foreign investment.

In Sopon's world, any person who advocates foreign ownership of land is a traitor, an outlaw and a criminal.

How does Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej feel about public criticism towards his Cabinet members, even after the reshuffle? No need to ask, because the line-up must have been part of his decision and grand design. One thing for sure: he does not care about public criticism.

He should ignore Sopon's criticism.

With such indifference, we can expect more law-breaking through direct actions and policies, especially over decisions to approve projects with huge budgets. The corrupt become bolder and more audacious even amid conflicts among rival factions. Oh yes, they are in a hurry to build up their war chests.

I follow The Nation very carefully every single day. It has supposedly transformed itself into the Thai version of the Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal(OK, you can stop laughing now.)Funny, I have yet to read all those investigative reports on Samak's corrupt government. If Sopon knows who is robbing the treasury, why don't he report it instead of going into hysterical fits and hyperbolic rants ?

What choice does the public have in preventing the country from sliding further down this treacherous path and its unpredictable end? Soiled hands are within reach of the national reserves and there is vast interest in the money and financial markets. Who can deal with the desperados and the thieves?

Here it comes:

Here, the armed forces can prevent possible harm by supporting the rule of law and at the same time assuring the public that they are not subject to the influence of immoral and self-serving politicians.

There was a slogan - "We protect those who protect us" - used by the men in green uniforms. Maybe it's the right time for the Thai public to extend full support to the armed forces - if they carry out their protective duty for our due process of law.

No wonder nobody takes The Nation seriously, it is a national joke and it is going bankrupt.

Anybody with an IQ over 50 and has an elementary understanding of government and civics can tell you that the armed forces shouldn't be involved with politics and the law. Besides, the Thai armed forces(at least the upper echelons) are just as corrupt as the politicians and bureaucrats that Sopon is excoriating.

Sopon has yet to account for why General Sonthi, Surayud and the others are multimillionaires on a soldier's salary.

I'm really surprised Thanong allowed this to be published. The Nation is one of two English language newspapers in Thailand. The fact that you have one of your major columnists calling every Thai who does business with foreigners a traitor, thief and scumbag in a paper that caters to mostly foreigners isn't good for business, especially when the paper is going broke and begging for subscriptions.

Deconstructing Sopon Onkgara: Rumor and Innunendo Stand in Way of Good Journalism, Integrity

Vendettas stand in way of harmony, reconciliation

Sopon Onkgara

The Nation

Amidst the intense campaigning, money-dumping and guileful vote-buying tricks by key political parties, which have exceeded past efforts in terms of creativity and imagination, there was the worrisome revelation that an "enemies list" has been prepared by chief cronies and cut-throats loyal to Thaksin Shinawata.

Of course, The Nation hasn't documented any of these "money-dumping and guileful vote-buying tricks" with any investigative reporting of its own. It shouldn't be difficult, considering their friend and chief patron, General Sonthi, is in charge overseeing the election. But The Nation hasn't interviewed Sonthi about the corruption of election, has it? And, if the campaigning is rife with corruption and vote-buying as The Nation alleges but doesn't report on, why hasn't Sonthi put a stop to it?

The list, according to Suriyasai Katasila, who claims to be number 50 on the list, contains a wide range of Thaksin's enemies and critics, such as members of the military junta, the Assets Examination Committee (AEC), critics, activists, journalists and members of NGOs, among others.

Suriyasai has no credibility. Since he has been the junta's chief unofficial spokesperson and defender since the coup, it is surprising he is listed as only number 50.


AEC member Kaewsan Atibodhi tops the list for his outspoken role on the committee and his vigorous pursuit of hidden assets connected with Thaksin and his family.


Hidden assets? The AEC has already confiscated a good chunk of Thaksin's assets already. And most of those assets have been totally unconnected to any of the crimes Thaksin has been charged with so far.

Thaksin's cronies and henchmen have been quiet about the list. At least they did not deny its existence. If it does exist, it is surely not for public viewing and kept only for members of Thaksin's inner circle.

Sopon logic at work: The existence of the list has been kept secret, at least its existence hasn't been denied. Sopon probably didn't call anybody to ask if the list exists, so, either way the list may or may not exist, but if it does exist, it is only kept for Thaksin's inner circle, but Sopon will write a column about this list, whether it exists or not, because Sopon really isn't a journalist, but a gossip columnist.

During his reign, Thaksin was consumed with the arrogance of power and became abusive, with his critics bearing the brunt of his displeasure. Thaksin's top cronies were the ones who ensured that those who opposed his boss did not enjoy their days in peace and serenity.

Uh, I guess those protest that went on for months and months criticizing Thaksin didn't count. I guess those tens of thousands of people are all Thaksin's enemies list.

Journalists, NGOs and labour activists were stalked and harassed by senior officials at the Anti-Money Laundering office, who also abused their power. On days when street rallies and public demonstrations against Thaksin occurred on almost a daily basis, his henchmen were working overtime to counter with sinister acts.

What sinister acts? He allowed the demonstrations to go on and on for months.

It was not exactly a reign of terror. There were not many dead bodies or disappearances, as in Argentina, except for the period of Thaksin's dirty war against so-called drug dealings, with more than 2,500 extrajudicial killings, 1,400 of which were revealed by an investigative committee to have been unrelated to narcotics.

None of which were connected to Thaksin, but the military and police who ordered the killings or pulled the triggers, those in power now, are still on the loose. But in Sopon's deluded world, all roads lead to Thaksin and nobody is responsible for their own actions.

If Thaksin's political cronies win the general election on December 23, those on the enemies list could find themselves the victims of grudges being settled via harassment lawsuits and other extrajudicial means.

Soponism: If one hypothetical happens, then another hypothetical will occur.

It is not very significant to learn who might be on the list. Those against Thaksin could be dealt with gradually, with the degree and method of reprisal varying - physical, psychological or via other means, none of them pleasant.

Soponism: If I am on that list, then I might be shitting myself in the future.

Those who know Thaksin well enough realise that he is not a man who forgets his enemies easily. Everybody knows that forgiveness is not in Thaksin's lexicon. In previous cases, his opponents have suffered various plights.

Lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit disappeared without a trace despite a brief period of active investigation. It was an open secret who did it and for what reason.

Another high-profile victim was a customs-clearance broker who sang about tax-dodging tricks employed by one of Thaksin's subsidiary companies. The broker was marked for execution by a key member of his innermost circle. Some of the hit men, who were junior policemen, were transferred to obscure posts.

Soponism: Make shit up that Thaksin did that has never been documented by any news report in The Nation or any court of law.

Whether or not the list exists, Thaksin's opponents will not be allowed to live happily ever after once his cronies win the election and form a new government, as is widely predicated. His cronies, spoiling for vengeance, will certainly see to that because they have personal scores to settle as well.

Soponism: Even though I have no evidence to back up anything I say, make wild predictions that the worse may or not may not occur based on a list that may or may not exist.

Several of Thaksin's cronies are ex-Communist guerrillas who have engaged in real field combat with government forces. They were formerly university students who fled to take up arms in the jungles fighting a civilian dictatorial regime, in which, ironically, Samak Sundaravej served as interior minister. Now these two factions are working hand in glove to fight for Thaksin's return.

Soponism: Blame the commies, or blame the righties, or hey, just blame both--everybody is an agent of Thaksin.

Any hope of political reconciliation among conflicting parties will be tested just a few weeks after the newcomers take over at Government House.

Thus far during the election campaign, Thaksin's cronies and relatives have made it loud and clear that they intend to go after their opponents with extreme vengeance in mind for "all generations still living". The warning sounds very ominous now, with their arrogance likely to intensify following what seems like a sure-fire victory in the polls.

Interesting that Sopon doesn't quote any Thaksinistas to give his column any credibility.

Sopon sees the writing on the wall, and like I have written previously, as the election approaches, The Nation will become increasingly hysterical.

What's more, Thaksin's cronies have become bolder and more combative in their challenges to the military leaders. Nobody is above their vicious attacks, not even Privy Council president General Prem Tinsulanonda, who remains a constant target for verbal pot-shots by Samak, the leader of the People Power Party and a self-confessed Thaksin crony.

What's wrong with challenging the military leaders? That is their right under the 1997, 2007 and Asean constitutions.

If political pundits are correct in their predictions, no matter which side wins the election, the next government will face a stormy period. There are no optimistic viewpoints these days. If Thaksin's cronies do grab power and enjoy carrying out their vendettas, the country could really begin to resemble Argentina - not in terms of its economy, but in an increased number of cases of harassment, incarceration and disappearance.

Somebody should inform Sopon that Argentina is no longer a military dictatorship and hasn't been so for a long time.