The role of The Royal Family

Especially in this current situation I always wonder if the Royal Family can do nothing to sort the situation.
While I do know Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, I don't know the exact powers of HM the King.

I know he's in bad health and during my various trips to Thailand I undestood he's perceived by the vast majority of the Thais as some sort of deity so regardless of what the Constitution allows him to do I always get the feeling things could change, either for better or worse, with HM the King's intervention.

During my last stay in April I was reading the Bangkok Post where it was being mentioned and strongly criticized that Shinawatra asked to have a meeting with HM and publicly asked him to step into the situation.

The King did intervene in the troubles in the early 1990's:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhumibol_Adulyadej

[cdnmatt]

Technically, the King has no power at all, but realistically, he has a huge amount of power. If the King steps in and says stop, there's a good chance everyone will stop. Nobody is going to defy the King.

I actually asked the BF a couple weeks ago what he thought about the chances of a civil war. He basically just hysterically laughed at me, and said there's zero chance, because if needed, the King will step in.

Technically, the King has no power at all, but realistically, he has a huge amount of power. I actually asked the BF a couple weeks ago what he thought about the chances of a civil war. He basically just hysterically laughed at me, and said there's zero chance, because if needed, the King will step in.

One of the good reasons for having a monarch who is respected and loved.

The King did intervene in the troubles in the early 1990's:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhumibol_Adulyadej

Thanks Sanook, I Gave it a quick read.. granted on Wikipedia it is very hard to discern facts from hearsay, allegedly The King was the first to want the 2006 coup against Shinawatra.

So that should pretty much answer my next question "since he has stepped in/influenced past coups, why doesn't he do it again?"
If it's true he wanted Shinawatra out in 2006, he'll hardly want him back right?

Reading that one could also imagine the King may step in only once there is a real risk of a civil war.. I hope all that is avoided - especially because my ticket is non refundable damnit!

I actually asked the BF a couple weeks ago what he thought about the chances of a civil war. He basically just hysterically laughed at me, and said there's zero chance, because if needed, the King will step in.Yer my friends boyfriend says war will happen now king or no king.

I actually asked the BF a couple weeks ago what he thought about the chances of a civil war. He basically just hysterically laughed at me, and said there's zero chance, because if needed, the King will step in.Yer my friends boyfriend says war will happen now king or no king.

Call the media! A friend's boyfriend says war is inevitable!

If I speak to my boyfriend he's incredibly disinterested. Living a couple of hours away from Bangkok and being one of the rural poor he doesn't see events as having anything to do with him. If I ask him about the Red Shirts he just says they are "a few bad people, throw bomb bomb, mai dee".

His mother has a photo of Taksin on her wall next to one of the King but I don't think she has much interest either. The King is certainly more important to them both than any politician.

[X] http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/conten ... 106&db=all (http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a748089106&db=all) = http://docs.google.com/View?docid=df9t5vkb_33cgk2cn

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/16/world ... 6king.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/16/world/asia/16king.html)

Let me get this straight...YOU know someone "in the know" about counterintelligence? And he just happened to be bar crawling for underage boys in Sunee Plaza while you were there?

You've finally gone over the edge.

I WAS TALKING TONIGHT TO SOME ONE IN THE KNOW, RE COUNTER INTELLIGENCE

Was that his 'mic' that you had in your mouth on one of your regular trips to a public toilet? And being in 'Counter Intelligence' one can just image him searching a big mouth idiot like you out and giving you all the inside information....You don't just suck pricks LMTU you are one!

...I WAS TALKING TONIGHT TO SOME ONE IN THE KNOW, RE COUNTER INTELLIGENCE

I thought you told us the counter intelligence people were all busy watching farangs leave gogo bars in Sunee with ID-less boys, whilst the US Military drones photgraphed the incidents from above? One can only assume that the international secret service have now reappraised their priorities.


.... the hard line Red Skirts, are ready for in sighting civil war....

Madame Jim's Tartan Army on the warpath now? Is this another world exclusive scoop?


:occasion9:

Madame Jim's Tartan Army on the warpath now? Is this another world exclusive scoop?

The room where she likes to hold her indoor BBQ's is only big enough for one invite at a time so that would make it a long war!

Madame Jim's Tartan Army on the warpath now? Is this another world exclusive scoop?

The room where she likes to hold her indoor BBQ's is only big enough for one invite at a time so that would make it a long war!

It's not always a BBQ - sometimes it's a finger buffet.

:hello1: :hello1:

I do believe that LMTU is a perfect example of counter intelligence.

"trying to spoil others interest in interesting Information"

Your post are interesting - and only marginally at that - simply due the the complete absurdity of what you post. It is nothing more than stream of consciousness drivel flowing from that non-functional mono-neuron you lovingly call a brain. Pitty those stem cells haven't been able to magically grow you a functional brain.

[X] Counterintelligence? (CI) Counterinsurgency (COIN): http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm3-24.pdf

[Beachlover]

I do believe that LMTU is a perfect example of counter intelligence.

"trying to spoil others interest in interesting Information"

Your post are interesting - and only marginally at that - simply due the the complete absurdity of what you post. It is nothing more than stream of consciousness drivel flowing from that non-functional mono-neuron you lovingly call a brain. Pitty those stem cells haven't been able to magically grow you a functional brain.

It's just fascinating what this moron will come up with next. You've got to wonder how his brain gets him from A to B each day without being run over, falling into a man hole or getting lost. A dumber man I cannot imagine.

[Dboy]

falling into a man hole

Oh my!