Pattaya News Flash - The Source
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Somchai Khunploem, the Godfather of Chonburi
Still Influential
Bangkok Post reports that Thailand's Dictator General Prayuth Chan-ocha appointed Sonthaya Kunploem as adviser to the Prime Minister and Itthiphol Kunploem as assistant to the Tourist and Sports Minister.
The two are sons of Somchai Kunploem, the Godfather of Chon Buri.
Somchai Kunploem has served as one of the leading figures in Thailand's political and criminal spheres.
Please read too:
The Nation:
The next general election is still several months away but it seems preparations are under way for General Prayut Chan-o-cha to return as prime minister
The Nation:
Prayuth defends role for Kunplomes
Bangkok Post:
Regime moving chess pieces into place
Khaosod English:
Scholars see political deal in Prayuth's recruiting former Thaksin Minister
Bangkok Post: Updated
NCPO lures politicians with plum jobs
The Nation: Updated
Thailand's Dictator in firm rebuttal of Abhisit's offering jobs in government claim
The Kunplomes
Itthiphol Kunplome
Kunplome Family beaten
The Nation:
Influential Kunplome family beaten on home ground:
Ittipol Kunplome, an influential Chon Buri politician, a former Mayor of Pattaya and the son of Somchai Khunploem, the Godfather of Chonburi and a convicted gangster, suffered a shock defeat at the hands of a lesser-known Future Forward Party candidate.
Please read The Legacy of Mayor Itthiphol Khunplome too!
The Tip of an Iceberg
Bangkok Post reports that a Bangkok school director has been expelled for taking bribe.
He was hit with the most severe disciplinary penalty for having received 400'000 Baht in exchange for admitting a student to Mathayom 1 (grade 7): He loses all pension and welfare benefits.
The case is just the tip of an iceberg. Corruption is omnipresent in Thailand's education system. It even starts in kindergartens and reaches its peak at the country's Universities.
Pattaya News Flash: Free and Fair Elections
'Free and Fair' Elections
as seen by Thailand's Military Junta
General Election 2019
Prachatai:
Support good people to rule this country
Prachatai:
The military-sponsored General Election of Thailand
BBC News:
Pro-military political party takes lead
The Guardian:
Pro-military party may edge Thailand election in blow to hopes of new era
BBC News:
Confusion as results of post-coup vote delayed
The Nation:
Dubious results expose EC to glare of public scrutiny
The Nation:
Ballots from NZ arrived on Saturday, but (lazy?) officials only picked them up on morning of election
The Nation:
Former PM Thaksin says Thai election 'rigged' and marred by 'irregularities'
Did you ever expect anything else from a Military Junta?
The Nation:
Influential Kunplome family beaten on home ground:
Ittipol Kunplome, an influential Chon Buri politician, a former Mayor of Pattaya and the son of Somchai Khunploem, the Godfather of Chonburi and a convicted gangster, suffered a shock defeat at the hands of a lesser-known Future Forward Party candidate.
Please read The Legacy of Mayor Itthiphol Khunplome too!
The Junta appointed Election Commission postponed the announcement of initial election results to Monday, but delayed again...
Social media report that the Election Commission already spoiled about 1.7 million of invalid ballots around the country.
In a Sukhothai constituency there was about 200 percent turnout.
Total ballots count were also larger than those present for voting in Nakhon Sawan and Korat.
Bangkok Post reports that Vote-buying was rampant on the eve of Sunday's general election.
The Guardian:
Thai election process deeply flawed
Khaosod English:
Thainet cries Dirtiest Election
Bangkok Post:
Unofficial poll results delayed again as complaints mount
Khaosod English:
General Elections were peaceful but not fair
Prachatai:
The most questionable election in Thai history?
Prachatai:
Critique of Thailand's preliminary Election results 24 March 2019
Bangkok Post:
Whether they are the result of incompetence on the part of the Election Commission (EC) or of systematic efforts to rig the general election on Sunday, the many flaws and irregularities detected at polling stations and during vote counting have to be fully explained to the public
Khaosod English:
Activist launches Petition to oust Election Commission
Prachatai:
Stalemate before catastrophe?
The democratic camp can win the House, but cannot choose the Prime Minister, while the pro-junta camp can choose the Prime Minister but cannot pass legislation through the House. Only one casualty for the democratic camp, and Thailand will be under a disguised military dictatorship for the next four years.
Khaosod English:
Poll Results Leave Nation Puzzled with Many Math Mysteries
Khaosod English:
Party With Most MP Seats Should Form Next Govt: Academic
Khaosod English:
Authoritarian Specter Awaits Post-Election Thailand: Historian
Khaosod English:
Opinion: Mistrust Prevails Following ‘The General's' Election
Bangkok Post:
EC calls discrepancies in poll figures 'explainable'...
Khaosod English:
Activist's Car Torched, Another Physically Attacked
Khaosod English:
Prayuth Pleads for Order as Distrust of Election Commission Grows
Khaosod English:
Prayuth Concerned about Social Media's Incorrect Thinking
Khaosod English:
Analysis: Thai Election Shows Divisions and Instability Remain
Khaosod English:
EC Must Be Transparent in Computing Party-List MPs: Observer
The Nation:
EC under pressure to reveal formula for calculation of MPs
Prachatai:
Kasetsart University bars students from campaigning to impeach ECT
Bangkok Post:
Party-list seats row engulfs EC
Bangkok Post:
Poll chiefs fail maths test, and electorate
The Nation:
EC to decide on MP formula soon
Bangkok Post:
Small parties 'eligible' for party-list seats
Khaosod English:
Activists to submit Petition to dissolve Election Commission
The Nation:
EC accuses activist, critic of libel
Bangkok Post:
Third MP alliance emerges as wildcard
The current 'independent' Election Commission was appointed August 12th, 2018, by Thailand's coup leader and Dictator Prayuth Chan-ocha.
Bangkok Post:
Future Forward Party in hot water over lecture
Bangkok Post:
Thanathorn: Sedition charge an exercise in 'dark power'
Khaosod English:
Future Forward Leader Hit With Sedition Charge
The Nation:
Junta gets flak for sedition charge against Thanathorn, ILaw says NCPO has a pattern of going after its political opponents
Bangkok Post:
Thanathorn hits back at leftist plot claim: Army the real threat to country, he says
The Nation:
Junta gets flak for sedition charge against Thanathorn
Khaosod English:
Thanathorn Did Not Aid Anti-Coup Protesters: Rangsiman
The Nation:
Supporters urge Thanathorn to 'fight on' as he surrenders at Bangkok police station
Bangkok Post:
Thanathorn faces three more charges
Khaosod English:
Thanathorn likely to Face Military Court for Sedition
Khaosod English:
Gov't Says Trying Thanathorn in Military Court is Fair
The Nation:
It's a tightrope for Thanathorn - and everyone: An Attempt to disqualify a fast-rising star from political office for a minor oversight, or through fault-finding or even straightforward persecution, is an outrage.
The Nation:
Scores of poll winners could be disqualified in Thai vote
Bangkok Post:
Election 'risks rule of law'
Khaosod English:
Opinion: Why we should still be hopeful for Thailand
The Nation:
EC allegations going to corruption watchdog
The Nation:
Show no favouritism, Sudarat warns EC
Khaosod English:
Doubts over Election Commission's Party List Allocations Grow: Under an elaborate new formula released by the commission after the election, the threshold needed for the allocation of one party-list seat is reduced from 70'000 votes to 35'000 votes...
Bangkok Post:
Poll chiefs feel the heat
Bangkok Post:
Weird science in poll logic
Bangkok Post:
Poll results doubted
The Nation:
The Election Commission (EC) said it will seek a ruling from the Constitutional Court on whether it can use a seat-calculation formula that it worries is unconstitutional
Bangkok Post:
List seat saga 'may drag on'
Bangkok Post:
Election Commission accuses Thanathorn of breaching MP rules
Khaosod English:
Ombudsman says: EC has until Thursday to recommend election nullification
Bangkok Post:
Court asked again to rule on list-MP formula
Bangkok Post:
EC to push ahead with formula
The Nation:
Pheu Thai candidate dismisses allegations, demands review of ‘orange card'
Khaosod English:
As Limbo Continues, EC Insists Election Results Out by May 9
Bangkok Post:
EC accuses Thanathorn of breaching MP rules
Bangkok Post:
EC to push ahead with formula
The Nation:
Pheu Thai candidate dismisses allegations, demands review of ‘orange card'
Bangkok Post:
EC under fire over poll gaffes
Khaosod English:
Future Forward may sue EC for Dereliction of Duty
Bangkok Post:
Pheu Thai calls for disbandment of Palang Pracharath
The Nation:
Tit-for-tat widens post-poll divisions
Bangkok Post:
Constitutional Court will rule on calculation of list MPs
Bangkok Post:
Election Commission disqualifies another 11 ex-MP candidates
The Nation:
11 election candidates disqualified
The Nation:
Future Forward candidates deny activist's media shares claim
The Nation:
NCPO to appoint many Cabinet Ministers, NLA members to new Senate
The Nation:
EC endorses 349 constituency seat winners for Lower House
Bangkok Post:
EC endorses 349 constituency MPs
Khaosod English:
EC Confirms Constituency MPs, Pheu Thai Loses 1 Seat
The Nation:
Court rules MP calculation in line with Constitution
Bangkok Post:
Party-list MPs announced, including Thanathorn
Khaosod English:
EC Admits 27 Parties to Parliament, Setting New Record
Khaosod English:
Election Count Finalized, Leaving No Clear Winner
The Nation:
EC party-list calculation opens a can of worms
As expected:
Bangkok Post:
Poll agency (new) 'formula' gives PPRP (the Military Junta) the edge
Khaosod English:
Paiboon Threatens to Sue Party-List MP Detractors
Khaosod English:
How the Junta Rigged, Tweaked and Stole the Election
Bangkok Post:
PPRP factions fighting over cabinet jobs
Bangkok Post:
PPRP faces major coalition snag
Bangkok Post:
Prawit defends Senate picks
Prachatai English:
All goes wrong with unelected Thai Senate
Bangkok Post:
EC gets more dirt on FFP boss in share saga
Khaosod English:
EC Asks Court to Rule on Disqualifying Thanathorn
Prachatai English:
ECT requests Court to suspend Thanathorn from Parliament
The Nation:
EC urges Constitutional Court to disqualify Thanathorn
The Nation:
Prepare for a parade of political donkeys
Bangkok Post:
Thanathorn vows to form government
Yes, it's time to stop the NCPO and sending soldiers back to the barracks.
Prachatai English:
Thanathorn's difficult prime ministerial bid
Khaosod English:
Junta Party Threatens to Sue Thanathorn Over Bribery Remark
Bangkok Post:
PPRP to sue Thanathorn over MP poaching claim
Khaosod English:
Abhisit Warns Dem Will Lose Credibility If It Joins Junta Camp
Bangkok Post:
Prayut wants extended control of security ministries
Bangkok Post:
Five years after it seized power in May 2014, Thailand's military junta, known as the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), has achieved what it envisaged
The Nation:
Democrats expected to join Phalang Pracharat coalition
Bangkok Post:
Palang Pracharath 'closer' to coalition
Bangkok Post:
Prawit evasive as senators accused of picking themselves
Manipulation of Election Results by Mathematics
The Conversation:
The baffling mathematics that helps to keep the Military Junta in power
The calculation of party-list MPs by Election Commission favours pro-junta parties as it slices down the opposition. Here's how it works step-by-step:
Prachatai English:
Weapon of math destruction at work in Thai politics
Bangkok Post:
Future Forward seeks ally in microparty seats fight
Bangkok Post:
Regime is here to stay:
The people who gained from the 2014 putsch the most have been the coup-makers and their allies
Khaosod English:
Court accepts case against Thanathorn, suspends MP Status
Bangkok Post:
Court suspends Thanathorn from MP
The Nation:
Court to consider shares case against Thanathorn, suspends him from office
Bangkok Post:
Plot thickens
Bangkok Post:
Future Forward Party wins new Chiang Mai election
Bangkok Post:
'Thanathorn effect' shaking up politics
Bangkok Post:
PPRP coalition 'imminent'
Bangkok Post:
Politicians must put public first
The Nation:
Hard-fought wins in lower house point to tough times ahead for next govt
Prachatai English:
Election of Chuan Leekpai as House Speaker shows rifts in both power blocs
Bangkok Post:
The anti-regime alliance has no reason to celebrate the Future Forward Party's landslide victory in a Chiang Mai by-election, thanks to the Election Commission's MP calculation method, which will also add two seats to the pro-regime side — giving them a net gain of one seat
Bangkok Post:
'We need more time', Democrats tell Palang Pracharath
Bangkok Post:
Democrats vote to join Palang Pracharath
Khaosod English:
Abhisit Resigns as MP After Dems Join Pro-Junta Coalition
Bangkok Post:
FFP wants 30 rival MPs disqualified
The Nation:
Speaker submits bid to disqualify 30 government MPs
Bangkok's Elite pushes Thailand's Dictator Prayut Chan-o-cha
Bangkok Post:
Future Forward MPs reveal cobra offers:
Several Future Forward Party (FFP) MPs claim they have been offered 30-120 million baht each to vote for Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha as prime minister
Prachatai English:
Future Forward MPs speak out on ‘cobra’ offers:
A number of Future Forward MPs revealed in a press conference today that they have been offered 30 – 120 million baht each to vote for Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha as Prime Minister
Just a question: How much the group offered for the formerly "undecided" members of the Democrats and the Bhumjaithai Party?
Prachatai English:
Prayut's coalition cobbles together majority in the house
Bangkok Post:
Army chief: Maintain constitutional monarchy
Bangkok Post:
Malicious netizens are fanning unrest, says PM
The Nation:
Army chief's comments a threat to democracy: scholars
Khaosod English:
Army Chief Sends Warning to Critics of the Monarchy
We are the Original Banana Republic
Wikipedia's definition of a Banana Republic
Seen on Twitter:
Please stop comparing Prayuth to dogs or buffaloes
Those animals don't deserve this
Extract from Pattaya News Flash, formerly known as Pattaya-at-Night.com
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February 17th, 2017:
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2018:
Spike from Pattaya Days reports from Chernobyl:
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