Why does everyone hate Tucksin so much?

Question

I know that this has been going on for a long time, and even if I am Thai, I still have no clue what is going on. Can someone explain please???

Answer 1

I’m not an expert in Thai politics, but from what I’ve read from the newspaper, a man named Sonthi who owns a newspaper started campaigning against Thaksin because during the election, Thaksin promised to allow him to open a television station, and after Thaksin won the election, he didn’t give the concession to Sonthi to open the television station giving the reason that there were to many stations already, one of which belongs to him (ITV).

About the sell of all Thaksin’s asset, I was puzzled by it. At first the news of selling some of his asset was a cleaver idea, part of the assets were thought to be sold were the mobile phone company AIS and the airlines company, because there were too much competition and selling these to Singapore was a good idea (at least as viewed by the newspaper at the time) so that Thaksin can concentrate on the rising business like satellite. But, when the deals were done, Thaksin sold everything (almost practically). I don’t know who started it, may be Sonthi, but Thaksin was attacked as he didn’t pay any tax on the asset sold. Well, Thailand doesn’t have any law saying that once you sell stock you need to pay tax. This law in the west called capital gain. In Thailand, the stocks bought and sold only pay brokerage fee and VAT on the fee on the asset. The campaign against Thaksin not paying tax was quite ridiculous, but then new angles were found, in ways that he bent the law in forming holding company to avoid tax, and Thaksin transfer a huge sum of shares to his son, who was then a director in the company. The law however says that if anyone’s in a company receiving shares, he or she then is liable to pay income tax. If his son didn’t hold any position in the company, then the share can be given without tax.

The legality and the interpretation of taxation were quite confusing, at least to me. But, to the letters of the law, I still believe Thaksin didn’t break any of the law. Thaksin himself may be still confused about that, and couldn’t understand why the court ruled against him. This is because, as head of the government and head of largest party in the parliament, Thaksin amended all the laws that would have obstructed his business deals before he did the deals. In some cases, like the purchase of land in Ratchada road, Thaksin was accused to abuse his power. Well, he also change the holiday so that his wife can submit the purchase application in time.

To the letters of the laws, Thaksin didn’t do anything wrong, I believe. But, he bends so many laws and uses lots of his offices and connections power to achieve many business deals.

I wonder though, why on earth he would sell most of his businesses and spark off all these issues. I think Thaksin himself may still wonder the same thing.

Answer 2

If you recall during his first few years, he started programs that appeared to show that he was not corrupt.  He started many programs to benefit the people.  And one in particular was the Anti-Corruption agency.  Well, he got caught by it.  During his second term, he sold his family company to Singapore tax free.  Here you have millions of Thai living in near poverty and they have to pay taxes.  Why does he not have to pay taxes on a sale worth billions of Baht.  It's not fair, I am thinking, if I was in the common man's shoes.  

I realize that many places and people, they are "corrupt" kick backs, bribes, etc.  Not to say it does not happen in the west.  Cause it does and it is prosecuted and barely tolerated.  In the Asia, it is common.  I understand why, I think.  It is part of business.  

Many of the votes were bought in the election.  Would you not like the man if he filled your pocket with Baht?  When the Baht stops coming, there is a reality that sets in.  Now, some of these farmers are bankrupt, because the so called cheap loans came due and the economy is so bad no one can pay them back.  

Now, Taksin has taken off to England.  Why?  He thinks he is being persecuted by the people.  Uh, it's his associate that is in control barely.  The legal system of Thailand I am still learning about.  It's a bit slow and not reactionary.  

Would you be mad if he made alot promises and then not kept them?  Be as corrupt as most other politicians and then deny it.  Very sad.  All his family was involved in corruption at one point or another.  

Read what a newspaper who support Taksin says and then read what a newspaper like the Bangkok Post or others that oppose Taksin and the truth is somewhere in between.

I am just a third party observer, I read only the Bangkok Post online version.  I cannot understand the support for Taksin.  The ONLY reason I see is that they benefit from him being in office or his cronies or friends in office.

Answer 3

Opinion-

I don't hate him I do like him but I also think I know why people hated him or dislike him.

Thailand supposed to be a articuture country ,grow rice and farms as trhe king wills. TUksin wanted to improve thailand by make thailand be a commercial country...Even want to push that foreigner can own properties in Thailand and legalized the weed (as before we have major problem about other drug The guy saids we use weed instead of other drug at least when people high on weed they just lazy not go kill people which is happened a lot before). Of cause fix drug by drug is not the way for some Conservative thai people.

He did a lot of great things changes to better things...My whole family in bangkok didn't get 100 baht to vote for him still we all voted for him..And what makes me angry the most is THAILAND said we are Democracy ...but they deported a person who won the vote...What a hypocrite there is....

Anyway Main point is they think he will make thailand finally a slave of western and US which is unacceptable for anyone.

But if you just grow rice and fruit without having market to sell whether in country or exported how can those farmers survive anyway!.

The guy didn't have much time to prove himself....Thailand was bad from the root it need to be fix at the root which he didn't have chance to dig that deep ..too bad I was wishing thailand would be able to breath once again..but the guy with hope got kicked out and replace by people who just want to Walk around and call for help ...say this say that but never do.

Answer 4

He is not hated in the Issan region.He would win any election here

Answer 5

Do you mean Friar Tuck sinned? Yes! I hate his sins but I like him as a person!!!

Answer 6

In my opinion Mr. Taksin did a lot of good things for Thai people while he was in power, such as OTOP and the 30 Baht national health scheme. During Tsunami he was very quick to act and this was commented on by many people from all over the world. However it seems he has made some mistakes over Tax evasion and corruption, but we must wait for the court to clear this up. It's always difficult to know where the truth begins and ends!

Answer 7

that's right GavinS, you can buy a lot with a hundred baht in Isaan

Answer 8

One big point, he is too rich. Thaksin had been Thailand's richest man with his telecoms monopoly in the early days and then with satellite comms later. He controlled much of the telecoms empire there and thus many wanted a share of his wealth.

Many looked for opportunity to overthrow him so as to take a shot at his empire. So anything small will be dragged big. All for their own personal gains, discounting the good he did for Thai business economy.