Thai Fans Of Manchester City Warned Of Flags

[george]

Thai fans of Manchester City warned of flags

BANGKOK: -- Supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra's Manchester City Football Club have fallen foul of the law by displaying a banner featuring the club logo with the Thai national flag in the background.

Police Special Branch pointed out Thursday that the use of the national flag in such a way was a breach of the National Flag Act 1979, and punishable by up to a year in jail and/or Bt2,000 in fines.

Members of the Thai branch of the Manchester City supporters club displayed the offending banner yesterday at Suvarnabhumi airport to welcome the club's manager, Sven Goran Erickson.

Police Special Branch deputy commissioner MajorGen Trithosa Ronnaritthiwichai said the banner breached Article 53 of the bill, which outlaws the placing of letters, numbers or symbols on the national flag.

He said police would issue a warning to the violators and that they would be arrested if they continued to use the flag on their banner.

Erickson, the former England manager, is visiting Thailand to sign three Thai players to join the Premiership club.

-- The Nation 2007-11-15

[mrtoad]

Thai fans of Manchester City warned of flags

Erickson, the former England manager, is visiting Thailand to sign three Thai players to join the Premiership club.

-- The Nation 2007-11-15

Has this been confirmed, or is it still a load of nonsense being peddled by the Thai medai and Toxin?

[mrtoad]

Hilarious.

Buying Manchester City was a move of utter genius.

However odious that little man is you have to give him credit for his acquisition of a major Premiership club and the constant thorn in the side of this junta it provides.

Surely it will only be a matter of time before the Junta embarrass their selves even further by asking Manchester City to ban the flying of Thai flags within the ground.

ET, nothing is suprising with the buffons from the Junta

[esprit]

Given Sven's reported sexual appetite the only players he will be paying for are the ones that are already in a Premier league performing other tricks that has a little to do with heading a ball.

[John K]

Thai fans of Manchester City warned of flags

Erickson, the former England manager, is visiting Thailand to sign three Thai players to join the Premiership club.

-- The Nation 2007-11-15

Has this been confirmed, or is it still a load of nonsense being peddled by the Thai medai and Toxin?

The Op’s post did say 'police special branch' and not junta did it not? That same special branch was on Thaksin’s side the day of the coup.

Also mrtoad yes Erickson is here in Bangkok to do what the Thaksin says although he may not agree with the selection. Thaksin’s son was along for the ride to make sure he did what he was told.

[mrtoad]

Thai fans of Manchester City warned of flags

Erickson, the former England manager, is visiting Thailand to sign three Thai players to join the Premiership club.

-- The Nation 2007-11-15

Has this been confirmed, or is it still a load of nonsense being peddled by the Thai medai and Toxin?

The Op’s post did say 'police special branch' and not junta did it not? That same special branch was on Thaksin’s side the day of the coup.

Also mrtoad yes Erickson is here in Bangkok to do what the Thaksin says although he may not agree with the selection. Thaksin’s son was along for the ride to make sure he did what he was told.

John k, Can you please explain to me, why there is no mention of the signing of three Thai players in the British sports media, whilst there is a mention that they are taking several Chinese players on Trial? Sorry, I'm becoming increasingly sceptical about this so called signing, or maybe I'm just reading the wrong pages and speaking to the wrong people backin the UK.

[Big A]

..........and punishable by up to a year in jail and/or Bt2,000 in fines.

Now, dear reader, which would you opt for? Answers on a post card, please, to

The Buffoons

Government House

Bangkok

[John K]

it is on the Nations site with photos. You are dealing with Thaksin here this is pure politics and people will get hurt as Thaksin uses them and that includes Erickson and the Thai players.

[KhaoNiaw]

John k, Can you please explain to me, why there is no mention of the signing of three Thai players in the British sports media, whilst there is a mention that they are taking several Chinese players on Trial? Sorry, I'm becoming increasingly sceptical about this so called signing, or maybe I'm just reading the wrong pages and speaking to the wrong people backin the UK.

I've read in the British media that one player is signing. That gets a mentions in this fairly amusing story from the Guardian:

Erikssons's Thai visit draws more guards than fans

[Sunderland]

Hilarious.

Buying Manchester City was a move of utter genius.

However odious that little man is you have to give him credit for his acquisition of a major Premiership club and the constant thorn in the side of this junta it provides.

Surely it will only be a matter of time before the Junta embarrass their selves even further by asking Manchester City to ban the flying of Thai flags within the ground.

ET, nothing is suprising with the buffons from the Junta

Such comments will have you on the chopping block before sunrise, Mr. Toad.

"Off with his head!"

[mrtoad]

Hilarious.

Buying Manchester City was a move of utter genius.

However odious that little man is you have to give him credit for his acquisition of a major Premiership club and the constant thorn in the side of this junta it provides.

Surely it will only be a matter of time before the Junta embarrass their selves even further by asking Manchester City to ban the flying of Thai flags within the ground.

ET, nothing is suprising with the buffons from the Junta

Such comments will have you on the chopping block before sunrise, Mr. Toad.

"Off with his head!"

Okay. okay...I should know better. My reference thpough was to the idea that they would try and ban it in the UK.

[sriracha john]

Thaksin Shinawatra's Manchester City Football Club have fallen foul of the law by displaying a banner featuring the club logo with the Thai national flag in the background.

Police Special Branch pointed out Thursday that the use of the national flag in such a way was a breach of the National Flag Act 1979, and punishable by up to a year in jail and/or Bt2,000 in fines.

Police Special Branch deputy commissioner MajorGen Trithosa Ronnaritthiwichai said the banner breached Article 53 of the bill,

He said police would issue a warning to the violators and that they would be arrested if they continued to use the flag on their banner.

When it comes to inappropriate use of this nation's symbol, Thaksin is no stranger....

as his checkered history reveals...

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra greets farmers during yesterday’s visit with his son Panthongtae to Ayutthaya, where his supporters rallied in the Wang Noi area of Phaholyothin Road.

Thank you for the pic, Jai Dee.

There is an important issue that has the missus absolutely livid about these Thaksin rallies and it's evident in your posted photo.

The issue is that the flags that are being handed by Thaksin staff to attendees of Thaksin's rally.

Particularly, the phrase ทรงพระเจริญ that is inscribed on many of the flags, which is more evident in this photo:

This phrase translates as "Long Live"... and has always been exclusively used to refer to His Majesty the King and members of the Royal Family.

His self-importance has become a bitter pill to swallow for many, many Thais who refuse to swallow it... eg. http://www.thainewyork.com

I'm told that historically in the past, the punishment for such thievery of Royal terms and phrases

was beheading, not only for the offender, but also for next seven generations of the offender.

(of course I'm not advocating that, but it gives an indication of the level of affront that he has given to many Thais).

Not sure if there's been a change in Thaksin's campaign strategy, but photos of yesterday's rally in Chiang Rai with the obligatory flag-waving failed to depict the insulting flags previously flown at other rallies or maybe his staff are just more adept at confiscating the offensive photos.

I am STILL very interested in hearing what Thais think of the above photo depictions and what they implied... ask your significant others what their opinion of this. Mine was abhorred by it.

An additional news photo and info scanned from Thai newspaper:

[dee123]

after playing some football with the locals in Chaiyaphum over recent years I would just like to add this ...PASS!!!

[Martin]

Red, white and blue appear on a lot of the artefacts of symbolism.

Maybe, now that Frank' is part of the very heart of English tribalism, his supporters should use the RAF roundel to escape the attentions of Special Branch??

By the way, why is it assumed that it is the interim Government that 'Frank' wants to wind up?

It was the Democrats and motley associates that blocked him out of his office.

If the reports that he took over 60 packed suitcases with him when he went on his planned 10-day trip to the UN are correct, it looks as if he had a mutually-acceptable deal done with those who were going to stage the political theatre of tanks with no shells, and rifles with no ammo (but plenty of yellow ribbons).

I am not usually a conspiracy theorist, but the longer that there are only noises in Bangkok, and no actual action, about fining him shedloads of money, and so on, the more that I am inclined to the thought of a 'done deal' last January.

(And I still chortle about the announcement of the coup. "It does however mean that there will have to be a one-day national holiday. We apologise for the inconvenience." Lovely Thailand.)

[Scott]

Sadly, they don't have any trouble in wearing shorts and underwear made from the flags of other countries. Apparently, this doesn't breach anything!

[sriracha john]

Red, white and blue appear on a lot of the artefacts of symbolism.

Have a look at the photo of the offending flag at nationmultimedia.com.... it's unmistakably the Thai flag and an illegal depiction of this nation's symbol.

I am not usually a conspiracy theorist, but the longer that there are only noises in Bangkok, and no actual action, about fining him shedloads of money, and so on,

In addition to the seizure now of 12 Billion Baht for back taxes:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=1653029

There's about a Billion Pounds in frozen assets:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=124937

Add in outstanding warrants... and, while slow, they have been methodical and precise in the steps against this despot.

Edited November 16, 2007 by sriracha john

[Payboy]

..........and punishable by up to a year in jail and/or Bt2,000 in fines.

Now, dear reader, which would you opt for? Answers on a post card, please, to

The Buffoons

Government House

Bangkok

does that inclued breakfast?

[hammered]

Hilarious.

Buying Manchester City was a move of utter genius.

However odious that little man is you have to give him credit for his acquisition of a major Premiership club and the constant thorn in the side of this junta it provides.

Surely it will only be a matter of time before the Junta embarrass their selves even further by asking Manchester City to ban the flying of Thai flags within the ground.

He has played the Man Citeh card very well. It was strange that yesterday Sven didnt want to tlak about the acquisition of Thai players but about a Chinese one. Maybe Sven isnt totally willing to undermine his own reputation in an act of quite brilliant political theatre.

[mrbojangles]

Add in outstanding warrants... and, while slow, they have been methodical and precise in the steps against this despot.

Do i detect that your not Thaksin's number one fan SJ

[bartender100]

I wonder if Toxin gave Sven his ATM card to draw some money for him while he's here.

[ovenman]

I wonder if Toxin gave Sven his ATM card to draw some money for him while he's here.

Perhaps Mr. Big even obtained Sven a Thai Elite Card gratis.

[stats]

Perhaps Mr. Big even obtained Sven a Thai Elite Card gratis.

Eriksson has bought a 400 sqm penthouse in the development which will have six villas and six condominium units when complete and is located in Laem Set on the island’s secluded south east coast.

So maybe he was issued an Elite card too lol

http://www.property-report.com/news.php?id=161

[ThaidleHands]

Sadly, they don't have any trouble in wearing shorts and underwear made from the flags of other countries. Apparently, this doesn't breach anything!

On the other hand, flag desecration acts are usually resisted in countries where there's a tradition of progressive thought and political allegiance is earned by ideas rather than a bottle of bad whiskey.

It does annoy me to see my country's flag used as a decorative device on backpacks and other tat. Bikinis are less objectionable based on the quality of the contents.

[Tony Clifton]

I wonder if Toxin gave Sven his ATM card to draw some money for him while he's here.

No, the family man that he is handed over his son so Sven can act a a shield.

[thedude]

the thai flag with the Man City logo in the photo appears to be the official flag of the MCFC Thai chapter since 1957. wonder what took the police 50 years to discover its offending nature.

[Coffee Drinker]

Is there a different group with a different link than this one? They are about 50 days old, not 50 years.

http://www.mcfcosc.com/branch/thailand

THAILAND

Welcome to Thailand branch of Manchester City OSC

We set up our branch officially on September 2007.

[Plus]

Where exactly is the Thai flag on that site? Has it been taken down?

[mrbojangles]

Where exactly is the Thai flag on that site? Has it been taken down?

There is this one:-

http://mcfc4thai.com/community/

[frodo]

Army

Navy

Air Force

Marines

Thai Police Jump Parachute Wings Badge Pin

[ThaiAdventure]

Eriksson, in a blue shirt and a blue-and-yellow tie bearing a Thai royal emblem, said nothing to waiting reporters.

On Friday, he is due to sign at least one Thai international player for Manchester City. Suree Sukha, a 25-year-old attacking fullback who earns just $300 a week in the domestic league, would the first Thai to join a top-flight European club.

Thaht'd be the new Man City mascot then