Police Fire Tear Gas At Protesters In Front Of Parliament

[cmsally]

There's a good account of what happened on October 7th by a Western news photograher here. Plenty of photos too.

Excellent article. What a surprise (not) to see the military driving around assessing the situation.

[Thanh-BKK]

Yeah.

Sticks, clubs and pipes (and those lethal plastic hand-clappers) against tear gas grenades, rubber bullets, shotguns and pistols. Oh i forgot, the pistol wasn't used, it was only aimed at some imaginary pickup truck for the photo shoot. The shotguns had no ammo in them and the tear gas..... it's just gas, right?

I have seen those things (the tear gas grenades) on television, they really go off like bombs. If someone (cop or protester) is unfortunate enough to have such a thing land beside his/her foot the moment it goes BANG, well... we've seen the results.

Oh, forgot, those injuries were all cause by home-made explosives that the PAD brought there. Sure.

Thanh

[bangkokrick]

There's a good account of what happened on October 7th by a Western news photograher here. Plenty of photos too.

Thanks for posting that account camerata. It gives a great view of someone that is apparently impartial and is actually at the scene. I don't have any preference of the PPP or PAD as i am not Thai, but it is good that the truth be found. I find it hard to believe that there was no violence on the PAD side when they went to the demonstration with weapons. People that want to demonstrate peacefully do not carry weapons period.

Cheers, Rick

[Moonrakers]

I am wondering if, should it be proven that these chinese tear gas grenades caused these injuries, the police will do the right thing and scrap the dangerous Chinese cannisters.

[Rajah]

There's a good account of what happened on October 7th by a Western news photograher here. Plenty of photos too.

Thanks for this link. There is a link to the footage I looked for: A police man is run down by a peaceful pick up driver.

[Thai at Heart]

There's a good account of what happened on October 7th by a Western news photograher here. Plenty of photos too.

Excellent article. What a surprise (not) to see the military driving around assessing the situation.

There was a clip on live TV that night of the humvee moving around.

[h90]

There's a good account of what happened on October 7th by a Western news photograher here. Plenty of photos too.

very one sided..."Also the few remaining PAD protesters threw some explosives, maybe firecrackers or their own ping pong bombs." no policemen hurt from these and not even a complain from the police.

my people did not see any of these, as well the guards did not know of any. And why there is no photo of any?

[sylviex]

Thanks very much for this link, camerata.

Perhaps there are other such accounts ?

Information in English has been rather scarce.

[Samuian]

There's a good account of what happened on October 7th by a Western news photograher here. Plenty of photos too.

Excellent article. What a surprise (not) to see the military driving around assessing the situation.

yes, ONE Side, ONE view, ONE Reporter.... I don't know what to amke out of this line:

"A surreal situation was when a friend of mine - a Special Branch Agent under cover with the PAD - also came out of one of those buildings."

and

"Apparently occasionally guns were fired by PAD as well, yet I can’t say for sure. " ???????? Reporting on assumptions?

"Police pulled out two people from the back, and roughed them up a bit. Another injured woman was folded over there on the street."

"Then an army Humvee drove by to observe the situation. It stopped briefly at the police lines, and continued to Royal Plaza."

intersting!

"There is now a discussion about excessive force by police, and of course the use of teargas. From what I saw, I believe that the police had no other choice. Blame it on the miserable police budget that they had no less lethal teargas grenades, but not on the police officers on the ground that day. Police had to do with what they had available and that, in this case, was only equipment from Russia."

Not any more from China, too close of an ally?

"Were the injuries caused by explosives carried by PAD? I honestly have no idea. I only know that some PAD protesters were throwing explosives."

Sounds very familiar like in "honest mistakes"..today Khun Ying Pornthips team concluded there were no explosives...

Well, well, well....

"In this showdown PAD has used lethal force and if the police did not use teargas then this situation would have degenerated to hand-to-hand combat."

The Police with Riot Gear and shields would have lost, is it that what the police was AFRAID of??

" doubt that any police officer intended to maim anybody but this day was a day of very few choices.

What some people seem to forget is the basic situation: the law was with the police, and not with the PAD."

Very interesting conclusion of a journalist, how can he tell he "doubts it" ? Or is he indeed only a blogger, if so, imho with questionable interest!

An Opinion // Oct 11, 2008 at 3:06 pm

"I like your report. It is exceptional in that it presents both sides fairly. Too much reporting here is led by a cheerleader press corp that reports only one side and seems to suppress the the other."

Strange, strange, strange... this Blog isn't taking sides, this blog is liberal?

buffled..

[Bangyai]

Angkhana Radappanyawut

Low quality grenade took Angkhana's life * at this juncture, the headline, IMO, should be prefaced with "It's possible that" *

The trouble is that you are so wedded to a particular viewpoint that your comments don't carry much weight I'm afraid.If you sometimes expressed doubts over reports that support your position you would be taken more seriously.

In this instance you make a fair point though the evidence seems to be weighted that the problem was the substandard quality of tear gas grenades and poor crowd control/dispersal techniques.Let's see if an independent inquiry can establish the truth.My view is that the PAD all along has been eager to find victims or martyrs for propaganda purposes and this poor girl is being exploited for that reason.Actually this Horst Wessel attitude was something I noted some time ago, and is consistent with fascist street tactics.

Frankly the activities of street thugs (and I'm certainly not putting Khun Angkhana in this category) on whatever side is of marginal interest in the wider scheme of the current struggle.Only the most partisan would disagree that there has been bad behaviour on both sides.But let's not forget that the security forces were upholding the law and the PAD leadership and mob were breaking it.

She is dead, murdered by the government and police, that's a fact. Now bending the facts till the PAD are the bad one and the "SECURITY??? forces" are the good one is just awkward.

Sure you would prefer that PAD does not mention her. Actually calling it fascist to blame the police for murdering a peaceful girl tells it all....

H90, I know that English is not your first language but using sensationalist words does nothing for civilized debate. Murder implies intention and even premeditation. Killed would have been more correct. Personaly, having watched the videos of tear gas rounds exploding and some of the police firing these rounds horizontaly , it does seem quiet probable that they were to blame for her death. However, as Younghusband pointed out, the PAD were breaking the law and the police trying to uphold it. If the outrage being expressed over the tragic death of this young girl was sincere, then the PAD leadership would be equally outraged at the death of the DAAD protester shot by someone within the PAD lines.

How do we call it? She died when the police accidentally throw ping-pong bombs into the peaceful demonstrators?

In fact the police just wanted to play table tennis with them to ease the tension.

For unknown reason the balls exploded. so just a accident.

At least better than "she carried an invisible bomb under her arm" or the bomb in his pocket blow away his food (but left the pocked unharmed).

No no sure no intention....just honest mistakes. No lies as well...just honest mistakes.

How can I dare to imply something bad to the police or PPP, as they have such a good record of being honest and peaceful.

So basically, what you are attempting to imply ( not very successfully ) is that in your personal opinion, an individual policeman , took deliberate aim at Ms Angkhana and then shot her with the premeditated intention of murdering her ????

Hmm , I think you have been watching just a bit too much ASTV . However if I try to follow your strange logic I presume then that you also believe that the DAAD protester was also deliberatley murdered by someone in the PAD . That being the case ,you have yet to address the question of why the PAD and you in particular are not outraged at both murders rather than just Ms Angkhanas ?

[Thai at Heart]

Strange, strange, strange... this Blog isn't taking sides, this blog is liberal?

This blog/report is interesting, nothing more nothing less; but it does add some more context to what happened on the day.

[h90]

what I doubt is the chinese tear-gas story.

I read a lot from that tibet demonstrations but did not read anything about such a thing (and they dig out everything they could use against China).

The doctors told when there is tear gas it can be still smelled but they didn't.

in my opinion that's just a Thai politic style idea: "Lets say it was the Chinese so neither PAD nor Police was wrong and there will be harmony again"

No evidence or special knowledge...just an idea.

[Samuian]

.....edit...

in my opinion that's just a Thai politic style idea: "Lets say it was the Chinese so neither PAD nor Police was wrong and there will be harmony again"

....edit.....

...like in: if your've to take the blame, quick! Find someone/something it can be blamed on!

sad, so sad.... it's the cylinders, not that they have (maybe) been tackled with, not who shot them, how... Nope... it was the dam_ned canisters themselves!

Sad....and very, very poor!

[Moonrakers]

Found this online:

The mechanism of burn injury was due to the flame generated from the grenade explosion, direct contact between the hot canister and the victim's skin, and the effect of the chemical powder inside the canisters when it splashed onto the victim's body.

http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=2930226

Severe traumatic injury from exploding tear gas bombs as well as lethal toxic injury have been documented.

http://www.zarc.com/english/tear_gases/jamateargastoxic.html

So maybe it is possible that the BIB are actually telling the truth here And that the injuries caused where unexpected. I also noticed on one you tube clip the impact that one of these canisters had on a tyre blockade.

Although this would still lead to the question as to why they where not checked for safety in the first place. And if it is proven that this is the case, then there would be NO excuses should they fire a single one of these particular canisters again.

[jumnien]

There's a good account of what happened on October 7th by a Western news photograher here. Plenty of photos too.

Thanks for this link. There is a link to the footage I looked for: A police man is run down by a peaceful pick up driver.

Fantastic eyewitness reporting. If only Thais could see reports like this!

[Old Man River]

It is the where do we go from here that leaves me feeling negative. I dont like unknowns.

I have the impression that things are kept silent, but the lines are pretty much drawn out.

The hefty charges against the 9 PAD leaders are reduced to much smaller offences.

Have a look at Anupongs latest statement, has ever anybody heard from an army chief "the army has learned a lesson"?

Somchai is on his way to Prachuab Kiri Khan, to "inspect cloud seeding", accidentally HM the King happen to be at his Residence in this Province and Somchai may have an Audience with HM the King.

Chavalit wants the army to move in, army refuses, the army want him in return to take responsibility and clear what really happend Tuesday morning, Sondhi wishes the army could shortcut the burdensome path the PAD has chosen to go.

The dissolution of the PPP is near, Somchai in trouble, so their daughter and many others in the government.

It's a bumpy road ahead, let's see if the citizen of this country will get right this time, or will they have to have a "nanny-government" installed in order to get things going in to a more palatable direction?

If so, I think the pans are already in a drawer guess in who's?

It looks very much as if it is now very much left to the judiciary

We have similar views. Very similar views.

I also think the change will come via the judiciary, but only because I can't figure out yet how the "change" could be achieved by the other power groups while still working through the existing political system. That leaves the judiciary.

[Thai at Heart]

Found this online:

The mechanism of burn injury was due to the flame generated from the grenade explosion, direct contact between the hot canister and the victim's skin, and the effect of the chemical powder inside the canisters when it splashed onto the victim's body.

http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=2930226

Severe traumatic injury from exploding tear gas bombs as well as lethal toxic injury have been documented.

http://www.zarc.com/english/tear_gases/jamateargastoxic.html

So maybe it is possible that the BIB are actually telling the truth here And that the injuries caused where unexpected. I also noticed on one you tube clip the impact that one of these canisters had on a tyre blockade.

Although this would still lead to the question as to why they where not checked for safety in the first place. And if it is proven that this is the case, then there would be NO excuses should they fire a single one of these particular canisters again.

It would appear that the BiB were using tear gas + percussion combined grenades the other day. Supposedly bought from China, although there is mention of maybe Russia. There are reports that it said "Do not fire directly" stickers having been found after the event, which would have presumably been written in English and the country of manufacture Chinese or Russian.

I found this which shows in the US which shows something similar being used but it would appear to be considerably smaller in effect that what was shown the other day. Less gas and lots of noise, but less explosive force.

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/09/f...ge-of-clas.html

Having seen the Chinese police in full effect once, their version of crowd control can probably be classed as very harsh.

Knowing how useless that BIB can be there is also the enormous possibility that the munitions were procured and used incorrectly and also without knowing the explosive force they possessed.

[sriracha john]

There's a good account of what happened on October 7th by a Western news photograher here. Plenty of photos too.

Thanks for posting that account camerata. It gives a great view of someone that is apparently impartial and is actually at the scene. I don't have any preference of the PPP or PAD as i am not Thai, but it is good that the truth be found. I find it hard to believe that there was no violence on the PAD side when they went to the demonstration with weapons. People that want to demonstrate peacefully do not carry weapons period.

Cheers, Rick

ROFLMAO... Nick Notalent is the one most PARTIAL and biased so-called journalist on the 'net, which is one reason he's posting on a blog and not writing for the major media.

[animatic]

Angkhana Radappanyawut

Low quality grenade took Angkhana's life * at this juncture, the headline, IMO, should be prefaced with "It's possible that" *

The trouble is that you are so wedded to a particular viewpoint that your comments don't carry much weight I'm afraid.If you sometimes expressed doubts over reports that support your position you would be taken more seriously.

In this instance you make a fair point though the evidence seems to be weighted that the problem was the substandard quality of tear gas grenades and poor crowd control/dispersal techniques.Let's see if an independent inquiry can establish the truth.My view is that the PAD all along has been eager to find victims or martyrs for propaganda purposes and this poor girl is being exploited for that reason.Actually this Horst Wessel attitude was something I noted some time ago, and is consistent with fascist street tactics.

Frankly the activities of street thugs (and I'm certainly not putting Khun Angkhana in this category) on whatever side is of marginal interest in the wider scheme of the current struggle.Only the most partisan would disagree that there has been bad behaviour on both sides.But let's not forget that the security forces were upholding the law and the PAD leadership and mob were breaking it.

She is dead, murdered by the government and police, that's a fact. Now bending the facts till the PAD are the bad one and the "SECURITY??? forces" are the good one is just awkward.

Sure you would prefer that PAD does not mention her. Actually calling it fascist to blame the police for murdering a peaceful girl tells it all....

H90, I know that English is not your first language but using sensationalist words does nothing for civilized debate. Murder implies intention and even premeditation. Killed would have been more correct. Personaly, having watched the videos of tear gas rounds exploding and some of the police firing these rounds horizontaly , it does seem quiet probable that they were to blame for her death. However, as Younghusband pointed out, the PAD were breaking the law and the police trying to uphold it. If the outrage being expressed over the tragic death of this young girl was sincere, then the PAD leadership would be equally outraged at the death of the DAAD protester shot by someone within the PAD lines.

Murder I also thought was incorrect,

But, Man Slaughter, or death by negligent actions or inactions, fits well though.

And since when was ANY "DAAD protestor shot behind PAD lines"?

No record of that happening. Purely propaganda.

And ignores the fact IF a DAAD person was "behind PAD lines", as you say,

he wouldn't bee there for any good purpose, like a dialog.

One DAAD member died from a beating inflicted after HE attacked PAD lines swinging a machette

as far as we know. I am very sad for the poor deluded fool.

It was madness forced on him by others, PPP and DAAD leaders,

and he died for their malevolence and stupidity.

[sjaak327]

Which means we have to disregard his report ?

[animatic]

There's a good account of what happened on October 7th by a Western news photograher here. Plenty of photos too.

Thanks for posting that account camerata. It gives a great view of someone that is apparently impartial and is actually at the scene. I don't have any preference of the PPP or PAD as i am not Thai, but it is good that the truth be found. I find it hard to believe that there was no violence on the PAD side when they went to the demonstration with weapons. People that want to demonstrate peacefully do not carry weapons period.

Cheers, Rick

ROFLMAO... Nick Notalent is the one most PARTIAL and biased so-called journalist on the 'net, which is one reason he's posting on a blog and not writing for the major media.

Well he seems unbiased.. NOT he says right there:

The police asked PAD hiding in surrounding buildings to leave. They shouted that they would do nothing to departing protesters, and I saw several that came out and were left alone by police.

A surreal situation was when a friend of mine -

a Special Branch Agent under cover with the PAD -

also came out of one of those buildings.

No not biased, but his buddy is special branch.

Some of his photos really suck too, I lot of the amatuers

at least know to just leave the camera on automatic...

[Bangyai]

Angkhana Radappanyawut

Low quality grenade took Angkhana's life * at this juncture, the headline, IMO, should be prefaced with "It's possible that" *

The trouble is that you are so wedded to a particular viewpoint that your comments don't carry much weight I'm afraid.If you sometimes expressed doubts over reports that support your position you would be taken more seriously.

In this instance you make a fair point though the evidence seems to be weighted that the problem was the substandard quality of tear gas grenades and poor crowd control/dispersal techniques.Let's see if an independent inquiry can establish the truth.My view is that the PAD all along has been eager to find victims or martyrs for propaganda purposes and this poor girl is being exploited for that reason.Actually this Horst Wessel attitude was something I noted some time ago, and is consistent with fascist street tactics.

Frankly the activities of street thugs (and I'm certainly not putting Khun Angkhana in this category) on whatever side is of marginal interest in the wider scheme of the current struggle.Only the most partisan would disagree that there has been bad behaviour on both sides.But let's not forget that the security forces were upholding the law and the PAD leadership and mob were breaking it.

She is dead, murdered by the government and police, that's a fact. Now bending the facts till the PAD are the bad one and the "SECURITY??? forces" are the good one is just awkward.

Sure you would prefer that PAD does not mention her. Actually calling it fascist to blame the police for murdering a peaceful girl tells it all....

H90, I know that English is not your first language but using sensationalist words does nothing for civilized debate. Murder implies intention and even premeditation. Killed would have been more correct. Personaly, having watched the videos of tear gas rounds exploding and some of the police firing these rounds horizontaly , it does seem quiet probable that they were to blame for her death. However, as Younghusband pointed out, the PAD were breaking the law and the police trying to uphold it. If the outrage being expressed over the tragic death of this young girl was sincere, then the PAD leadership would be equally outraged at the death of the DAAD protester shot by someone within the PAD lines.

Murder I also thought was incorrect,

But, Man Slaughter, or death by negligent actions or inactions, fits well though.

And since when was ANY "DAAD protestor shot behind PAD lines"?

No record of that happening. Purely propaganda.

And ignores the fact IF a DAAD person was "behind PAD lines", as you say,

he wouldn't bee there for any good purpose, like a dialog.

One DAAD member died from a beating inflicted after HE attacked PAD lines swinging a machette

as far as we know. I am very sad for the poor deluded fool.

It was madness forced on him by others, PPP and DAAD leaders,

and he died for their malevolence and stupidity.

Sorry to correct you animatic, but I said from within the PAD lines , not behind them. That is to say , the victim in question was shot in front of the PAD lines by persons unknown. However, you are correct that he was likely not in front of the PAD lines to enquire if there were any good restaurants in the area. He was part of the DAAD mob that marched from Sanam Luang to confront the PAD mob. The incident happened a few weeks ago. My point is that when he was killed I don't recall the PAD leadership showing any great remorse over his death. Personaly, I think that even one death is one too many and that both the PAD and the DAAD leadership have shown a cynical attitude to the fate of their followers, encouraging confrontation beforehand then outrage at the subsequent deaths.

[sriracha john]

It's been just a matter of time...ever since Thaksin selected him to be the PM...

Thai PM considers resigning in wake of political violence

BANGKOK - Thailand's prime minister indicated Saturday that he may resign in the wake of political violence earlier this week that left two people dead and hundreds injured.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, who has held the job for little more than three weeks, said he was considering his position as anti-government protesters prepared for another mass rally.

Asked if he would resign or dissolve parliament, Somchai told reporters: "It's the issue that I must consider, what's best in both the short and long term. I'm not attached to the idea of being prime minister.

"I have to study the pros and cons of each scenario, such as dissolving the House or resignation," he said.

Somchai is struggling to govern Thailand amid political protests that show no signs of abating.

On Friday his spokesman insisted he would not quit, but in the past few days, senior military leaders have put pressure on the premier to take a decision on his future and solve the crisis.

Somchai insisted there was no rift between himself and the military however. "I am still talking with them, there is no conflict," he said.

On Tuesday police fired tear gas on demonstrators who had blockaded parliament to protest a government plan to amend the country's constitution, a move they say is aimed at helping ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The People's Alliance for Democracy claims the current government is running the country on behalf of Thaksin, who was toppled in a September 2006 coup following other PAD protests.

Thousands of the group's supporters marched to parliament on Tuesday where Somchai -- Thaksin's brother-in-law -- was delivering his first policy address.

Bloody clashes that followed between the protesters and police left two dead and at least 478 people injured in the worst street violence in Bangkok in 16 years.

Somchai has since announced an independent investigation into the incident, but the PAD on Friday said it would hold further rallies on October 13.

On Saturday, the premier called on the PAD to reconsider the protest.

"Our country is in turmoil -- is this only the government's fault?" Somchai said.

"I want to ask protesters not to create more disturbance, I am ready to talk. They (protesters) are Thai so we speak the same language."

- AFP / 2008-10-11

[sriracha john]

and here comes DAAD...

Supporters of Thai government rally near Bangkok

BANGKOK, Thailand: Thousands of supporters of Thailand's ruling coalition gathered Saturday on the outskirts of Bangkok in a show of strength, two days ahead of a planned major protest by a group hoping to topple the elected government.

The United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship is the rival of the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy, which has occupied the grounds of the prime minister's office since Aug. 26.

"We gathered today to show that the majority of this country objects to these rebels trampling on Thailand's democracy," said [TRT Banned #104 and multiple criminal litigant for being a rioting gang leader as well as for lese majeste] Veera Musigapong, one of the leaders of the United Front. "We want to show that they are destroying the country in the name of the Thai public."

Veera was a Deputy Leader of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's [Thai Rak Thai] party. The People's Alliance is demanding the resignation of all leaders linked to Thaksin, a former telecommunications billionaire who was ousted by a 2006 military coup for alleged corruption and misuse of power.

The United Front plans to continue its rally until Tuesday at a field less than a mile from the prime minister's office occupied by the People's Alliance, but Veera said the group would not march in the streets.

In September, members of the pro-government group clashed with their rivals while marching in Bangkok, and one of its members was beaten to death.

The political conflict turned violent again last Tuesday, when anti-government protesters attempted to blockade Parliament to keep Prime Minister Somchai from delivering a policy statement.

Police used tear gas to clear the streets, sparkling a series of clashes that injured 478 people — mostly protesters — including 85 who were hospitalized, according to medical authorities.

The protest alliance says it plans a large demonstration on Monday outside police headquarters to protest alleged police brutality in last Tuesday's clashes.

Somchai's People's Power Party also faces a legal challenge. The Office of the Attorney-General on Friday forwarded a case to the Constitutional Court that charges the party's former Deputy Leader with election fraud. A court affirmation of the fraud could lead to the party being disbanded, and Somchai's administration being forced to step down.

- Associated Press / 2008-10-11

[h90]

It's been just a matter of time...ever since Thaksin selected him to be the PM...

Thai PM considers resigning in wake of political violence

BANGKOK - Thailand's prime minister indicated Saturday that he may resign in the wake of political violence earlier this week that left two people dead and hundreds injured.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, who has held the job for little more than three weeks, said he was considering his position as anti-government protesters prepared for another mass rally.

Asked if he would resign or dissolve parliament, Somchai told reporters: "It's the issue that I must consider, what's best in both the short and long term. I'm not attached to the idea of being prime minister.

"I have to study the pros and cons of each scenario, such as dissolving the House or resignation," he said.

Somchai is struggling to govern Thailand amid political protests that show no signs of abating.

On Friday his spokesman insisted he would not quit, but in the past few days, senior military leaders have put pressure on the premier to take a decision on his future and solve the crisis.

Somchai insisted there was no rift between himself and the military however. "I am still talking with them, there is no conflict," he said.

On Tuesday police fired tear gas on demonstrators who had blockaded parliament to protest a government plan to amend the country's constitution, a move they say is aimed at helping ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The People's Alliance for Democracy claims the current government is running the country on behalf of Thaksin, who was toppled in a September 2006 coup following other PAD protests.

Thousands of the group's supporters marched to parliament on Tuesday where Somchai -- Thaksin's brother-in-law -- was delivering his first policy address.

Bloody clashes that followed between the protesters and police left two dead and at least 478 people injured in the worst street violence in Bangkok in 16 years.

Somchai has since announced an independent investigation into the incident, but the PAD on Friday said it would hold further rallies on October 13.

On Saturday, the premier called on the PAD to reconsider the protest.

"Our country is in turmoil -- is this only the government's fault?" Somchai said.

"I want to ask protesters not to create more disturbance, I am ready to talk. They (protesters) are Thai so we speak the same language."

- AFP / 2008-10-11

the long term, maybe resign and put the next idi0t in power than having a coup and being past.......

[animatic]

Oddly I think Somechai is a nice man.

But he was too much of a milktoast to stand up to the Tuesday hawks,

and is wife's demands in general. The hawks won the day Tuesday,

and Somchai will pay the price for his lack of backbone.

He was never the right man for the job,

just a trusted man in Kensington.

So much for a legacy...

[Thai at Heart]

Oddly I think Somechai is a nice man.

But he was too much of a milktoast to stand up to the Tuesday hawks,

and is wife's demands in general. The hawks won the day Tuesday,

and Somchai will pay the price for his lack of backbone.

He was never the right man for the job,

just a trusted man in Kensington.

So much for a legacy...

Could be one of but I don't think the shortest PM'ship.

I tend to agree with your opinion of the man. He had the look of a man who was constantly wondering "What the hel_l have I done to get here?".

[Thai at Heart]

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/10/11...cs_30085779.php

Nation has this:

The Army chief gave a rare television interview after pressure mounted on him to take action to stop the political turmoil. The People's Alliance for Democracy had called on him to join with them in fighting the police and the government.

"We are a people's army, but it is impossible in one country to have the military fight the police in league with a certain group of people," Anupong said. "Taking any side will not end the story."

PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul told the protesters inside Government House on Friday night that Anupong was "no longer staying with people".

In a rare public statement showing his deperate desire for a coup, Sondhi insisted that there was such a thing as a good coup.

"Taking a side will not end the story," said Anupong in the TV interview. It was a remarkable statement from one of the coup leaders who overthrew the Thaksin government by force in 2006.

And the last piece de resistance

The PAD, as expected, was enraged. Sondhi and a number of PAD leaders on Friday night hinted that Anupong might have interests as his son is studying in London and is possibly taken care of by a millionaire in London. "Isn't your son studying in England? Before you still pay a mortgage but now you're dam_n rich," Sondhi said.

Seems like all of the toys came out of the cot.

[h90]

Oddly I think Somechai is a nice man.

But he was too much of a milktoast to stand up to the Tuesday hawks,

and is wife's demands in general. The hawks won the day Tuesday,

and Somchai will pay the price for his lack of backbone.

He was never the right man for the job,

just a trusted man in Kensington.

So much for a legacy...

somchai might be a nice man, but both his wife and a man in England is controlling him.

And the silent nice one if in the corner can be worse than the openly violent one.....

seeing the blood and not doing anything is NOT nice.....

[animatic]

Oddly I think Somechai is a nice man.

But he was too much of a milktoast to stand up to the Tuesday hawks,

and is wife's demands in general. The hawks won the day Tuesday,

and Somchai will pay the price for his lack of backbone.

He was never the right man for the job,

just a trusted man in Kensington.

So much for a legacy...

somchai might be a nice man, but both his wife and a man in England is controlling him.

And the silent nice one if in the corner can be worse than the openly violent one.....

seeing the blood and not doing anything is NOT nice.....

h90 I think hamstrung and bewildered fits him right now. Punch drunk too.

Clutching at straws while the quick sand swallows him.

If he has had any private moments sans wife, sans aidse, sans QUESTIONS,

I suspect he is privately appalled, but can't speak on it for a variety of reasons.

I think he has quickly become a vary unhappy man, in a very public way.

I very much doubt his order to clear the way to parlement included

maiming and killing so many in ANY of his daydreams or calculations.

But much sicker minds took advantage of his order to sow disorder.

Samak I can believe would have reveled in this as a 'just deserts thing'

and loved the uproar to follow. But we knew he was a nutter.

Somechai is the lost man. I think it has taken a few extra busy,

busy days for the whole appalling mess to dawn on him.

I think I will reserve final opinion on him for what he says AFTER the job his toast,

brother in law has blown him off, and wife realizes she blew it big time pushing him into this.