Thais must ask themselves how they can allow Thaksin to get away with so much while he shows so little respect. In the five years he has been in power, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has run up an exhaustive catalogue of transgressions virtually unparalleled by any other elected politician in this country.

OVERDRIVE: PM writing the book on wealth creation

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has executed a timely exit strategy for his family business – selling Shin Corp at its peak price. Over the past five years, shares of Shin Corp have jumped from Bt15 to yesterday’s closing price of Bt44. The Shinawatra and Damapong families have sold the stocks at Bt49.25 apiece to Temasek of Singapore, mustering a staggering Bt73.2 billion (US$1.8 billion).

‘Follow the leader’ politics a threat to democracy

Politically they may be worlds apart, but Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, sociologist Thirayuth Boonmi and media-mogul Sondhi Limthongkul do in fact share something in common.

The forgotten side of the war on terrorism

During the past decade – particularly since the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States – Westerners have generally considered international terrorism to be the most urgent threat to human security. Accordingly, vast resources have been mobilised and expended to counter its many forms.