Why were the Thais and the coup government so upset on Singapore buying Shin Satellite?

Question

tks guys! esp. peanutz for the enlightenment.

cos all these while thailand seems to me a close ally to singapore and it really went too far this time round.

Answer 1

I think you are Singaporean. Do not be offended by that sort of political sentiment. It will come and go. Some elements in Thailand link Singapore with Taksin, and that element is running against Taksin so Singaporean get also the impact. I think that is about all.
Hold you breath and Thai Singapore relations will normalise again.

Answer 2

The Thais were upset at Singapore becuz they allowed Taksin to visit the country. That was the last draw. Contrary to Peanutz they have found evidence of collusion in the sale of property to his wife and children. They were able to buy real property at a discounted price from gov't agencies. They say they are preparing warrants and charges against Taksin, his wife and children. Have you noticed that Taksin has not set foot in Thailand. Everywhere else but, to face his accusers.

Shin Satellite was Thailand's only satellite link and now a Singapore state owned corp. owns it. That would be like selling Jet Propulsion Lab to Mexico. You are giving technology away to a foreign country.

What Peanutz was talking about AIS and Shin Satellite. They are being scrutinized for corporate structure and concessions to other wireless firms. Remember they are Thailand's ONLY satellite company.

Now, the sale was tax free. As an accountant that means Taksin's family received something of value in the neighborhood of USD 1Billion. Under US law it would have to be an asset of equal value. He received cash or stock, that has never been disclosed. If it were cash, I don't understand how it could be tax free. This is a side issue.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/28Feb2007_biz01.php

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/28Feb2007_news20.php

Above are 2 articles from the Bangkok Post which during Taksin's reign, there was an attempt to buy it and another newspapers that were talking out against Taksin. Fortunately, it did not happen. The articles look at both sides of the issue.

In 2001, Taksin formed a corruption commission, big smoke screen to do more dirty work. Got the soldiers but, never the big wheels. Who are they, current and former politicians, generals, and police officials. How can they get away with it. Most are paid to shut up.

I realize you cannot believe all you read in the newspaper. Taking note that Thailand infrastructure is corrupt. Taksin is just so egotistical he got caught like Richard Nixon did. Times have changed and the Thai want a democracy even if it is imperfect.

Oh, have we forgotten that during Taksin's reign, his sister and brother in law were charged with fraud with regards to a fictional company that dealt with the new airport. This what really got things started in late 2005. Now the airport is open, flawed, runways cracks, inadequate air conditioning, etc. Probably overpaid for xray devices from GE.

As Harry Truman said the buck stops here. Which for Taksin it did.

Answer 3

These are the basic steps to where we got to now:-

1) Taksin (liberal democrat) wins landslide general election.
2) Social democrats lose badly, win very few seats - have no real power within the democratic system.
3) Social democrats find anything they can to attack Thaksin - including the Singapore deal.
4) Thaksin takes enough damage from Social Democrat attacks for him to lose credibility as PM.
5) Coup.
6) Government investigates the allegations surrounding Thaksin.

Its all just Thai politics as usual the main players being (1) business (liberal democrats) (2) The military (3) The young idealistic/educated middle class (social democrats).

Answer 4

All these things happenings were just mountains being made from molehills. When Takshin was premiere, quite a number of Thais were already growing green and were waiting for an opportunity to oust him. His political opponents were accusing him of improper practices in his business dealings, but could never produce any proofs.

The business deal with Temasek provides an excellent opportunity for these opposed to Takshin to brand him as sellibg out his country, which were his own family businesses. So they labelled him anti-national and staged protests for quite some time, till the coup.

Since then, these opponents had been accusing Takshin of many things, yet failed to produce any concrete evidences. However accusations continued. Till now.

One that I can never understand from the prime military general was accusation that Singapore was eaves-dropping on conversation in Thailand, just merely because Temasek bought over Takshin's shares. Even Telstra in Australia had accpeted that this is not possible when Sintel bought over Telstra shares! Credibility of that general is quite suspect. He is using nationalistic feelings to mask true intents.

As in today's news, seems like Takshin ITV will be confiscated by the government. At zero cost. And they are expecting AIS and subsequently Shin satellite to go for free too. If those in power will it to be. Billions for free. Who do not want this opportunity!

The fervour roused against Singapore was to keep the momentum against Takshin, and Singapore just happens to be a convenient fall-guy. Money in expense of bi-lateral ties. Sad to think of this. Almost way below the belt.

Answer 5

Speedjack is a racist. Maybe good economics in his ideas is taking advantage of other people.

Thaksin's policies centered on winnig public support for himself and his party by using state money paid by taxes of the middle class. The poor don't pay tax and the rich get tax breaks.

Then there is the case of the hugely overpriced x-ray machines which became quiet and Thaksin cannot explain. Yet his transport minister is able to buy 3 golf courses 1 month after resigning.

Worst of all is his disrespect to the King.

To answer the question: Thais are upset at Singapore for not being sensitive to the present government's policies by allowing their Deputy Prime Minister to meet with Thaksin and announcing it in the press. It's like,

"We know you don't like him but we do and we're going to welcome him to our country as a friend because he gave us a damn good deal.

Answer 6

do not say that the singaporeans did no research before buying it!
the Singaporeans company should not buy it from taksin anyway.
knowing that the ex-taksin company did not pay tax for years.

it is a price to pay when you do a gamble.
if taksin is still in power, the singaporeans company would run the busi freely and probably pay less than usual or no tax by the help of taksin.

but now the thing is not going that way, then you will have to pay for taksin's shi-t

do not do business with a cheater no matter what country it is.

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Answer 7

Lol, this is why Thailand will never prosper. Thais should go back to school and learn basic economics. Hope you guys think things through before forcefully stealing our property which we bought fair and square. Remember, just because we're small doesn't mean we don't carry alot of weight on the world stage.

Answer 8

i agree with peanutz and nowhereman.

i'm not gonna explain anything more,'cause peanutz already explain everything clear and right to the point,he did a good job for this.

one thing i wanna tell here and now is........ i want the coup and militarty goverment is fire,they should get out of this politic. they are too idiot,they mess up everything in thailand now and they are very corruption than thaksin.

i want the real democracy back to thailand again.

Answer 9

It seems to be that Thai military also uses the satelite. Therefore, that jeopadize Thai security through misuse of information by a foreign company owning the satelite.

Answer 10

they are afraid of signapore is listening to Gen Sonthi calling his girl friend. Gen Sonthi is trying to insert his power, he wouldn't try it agains China, US, or England, but signapore is a nice small opportunity to flex his muscle