Pardon Me? Three MORE Thai political convicts stroll out of prison

Good morning to all Fishwrap fans readers, it's pretty swell being right into this second of five weekends. Have you got good plans?
Below, you are allowed to read our early (Bulldog) edition of Monday, 9 December.

The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

We had discussions on trade issues, on border security that was very productive.
-- Dominic LeBlanc, minister of public safety, Canada, on the 180-minute Trump-Trudeau meeting meeting in Florida.

Yesterday was Anniversary Day 83 (years) of the very stupid Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. How many people of Japanese descent in the USA and Canada celebrate that, do you think?
Zero seems like a terrific and accurate WAG.
But this week is also Anniversary 83 of that time when Oriental-hater Frank Roosevelt started throwing everyone who was or maybe looked she was Japanese into concentration camps, and convinced his good buds William Lyon Mackenzie King up there in ... what's it called?... oh, right, Ottawa to do likewise.

Strangest Picture of The Week In Thailand

Never convicted of a crime, overthrown and tossed out of the country by the May 22, 2014 army takeover, Yingluck maintains she's a victim, and wants back to her country.
Her niece Paethongtarn is now prime minister; her big brother and one-time protector Thaksin -- he's back and is unpunished for political transgressions.

Somboon Muangklam, an adviser to Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong and Department of Corrections (DoC) claimed to a media gaggle yesterday... well, it's complicated but in brief:
Yingluck's former trade minister has been paroled after serving years in prison for offences during Yingluck's infamous 'rice scheme'.
A different three prisoners were paroled on Friday to serve the final three months of their sentence for political shenanigans at home, with an electronic ankle monitor.
Somboon's story: None of this concerns Yingluck, should she decide to return and fight charges in court.

The PM and her daddy are going to try to stay silent if this case even begins to play out.

Scam du Jour
Police are looking into the case of an accused con gang that convinced a large but still unknown number of Thais to give them 70,000 baht -- call it US$2,100 -- for a guaranteed work visa and job in New Zealand.

The case was actually busted by Kiwi consulate workers who noticed a huge uptick in Thai applications for tourist visas.
With nothing more than a Facebook page advertisement, the con men grifted large amounts. A totally fake New Zealand residence visa and work permit was show to applicants.
Police told a press conference they have arrested two suspects, who will be held without bail until trial.
Matichon [https://t.ly/tim3p]
While the case is under investigation, initial reports state that the scam gang also is selling fake documents to hopeful workers wishing to live in Korea.

Three former MPs to be paroled on Sunday
It rarely gets pettier than this:
Bhumjaitjhai Party trio went to prison for allowing fellow MPs to use their electronic voting cards during a vote on a budget bill in January 2020.

THAILAND VAT
For a short while, new-ish Prime Minister Paethongtarn Shinawatra, better known as Ung-Ing toyed with the idea of doubling... actually more than doubling the nation's 32-year Value Added Tax (VAT) on most items that are not food.
Thailand needs the money. Increasing VAT from 7 percent to 15 percent might just work.
However, cooler or maybe just politically fearful helpers talked her out of it.
PHOTO 'Shorty' Ung Ing feeds and listens to her main financial team.

BP and Bloomberg (worth reading) https://t.ly/mWiG7

THAILAND POLICY
There is no darkness, always a glimmer of light
by Thitinan Pongsudhirak, professor Chulalongkorn University, senior fellow senior fellow Institute of Security and International Studies (ISIS)
OPINION
Trump's tariff blackmail boosts Brics

THAILAND ECONOMY OPINION
by Chartchai Parasuk, freelance economist.
Thai government's household debt plan has many flaws
You don't say!
Problem One: The Bank of Thailand and the National Credit Bureau (NCB) do not and cannot agree on what is a 'non-performing loan' -- i.e. money lent by banks and finance houses that is not currently being repaid.
Example: The (very old) central bank definition says current NPLs are 175.8 billion baht. But the NCR says, get a grip -- the figure is 1.2 trillion. Bankers themselves add actual, current non-performing loans plus, for example, unpaid interest, and their estimate as of this morning is that Thais are running 1.7 trillion baht in various debts -- most of all, household debt .
Can you spell Havoc On The Economy?

THAILAND BANGKOK ENTERTAINMENT BEAUTY
Yes, indeed for those with some time, the annual flower show at the King's Park -- Suang Luan Lor Gow in far eastern Bangkok is a lovely place to be.

It is literally just around the corner and across the street from the staid and envied main headquarters of the award-eligible Fishwrap.
The park is totally family-and-children friendly, with attractions beyond the floral delights.
From now through Tuesday -- 10 baht admission and spectacular fireworks on the final evening.
With VIDEO: https://t.ly/GG9v-

TRUMP TARIFFS MEHICO

While Justin and 'aides' chuckled nervously at the jokes of Literally Hitler at Mar a Logo, Florida -- per reports by the press pool,
President Claudia Sheinbaum and the Mexican army simply got down to brass tacks.
It seems clear that Claudia and the entire establishment is going to work a little harder to arrest cartel leaders and seize their fentanyl makin's. In just two raids in cartel-controlled Sinasloa province, the army scooped up more than a ton -- 1000-plus keys -- of fentanyl pills ready for shipment to the U.S. and especially to Canada.

Trump... oopsie, Literally Hitler is not wrong about this; it's not just Mexico and China colluding on this murderous drug, Canada is in the op, up to its knees, or above.
Mexico (on the scene) Report: https://shorturl.at/9ik4i

Job Iden was voted yesterday by Americans as the worst U.S. president in living memory. Worst since Roosevelt. Worser'n Obama, worse than Jimmy Carter.
A little later in the day, Job removed his cover and removed all doubt.