pimay11

I'm 90% with you but there has to be a 'truce' which includes pardoning all (except those 'blacks' who sniped - they are unforgivable and must be caught and punished). It would not be wise to keep pushing the 'Thaksin' button - better to just get to a 3 month election compromise and stop the carnage. However, a caveate, I do think there has to be some sort of 'outside' monitoring of elections.

And what if it can be proven that the grenade throwers are funded by PTP/PPP/TRT MPs or Thaksin, or were acting on orders from the red leaders? They too would then be tried on terrorism charges.

anybody... individuals (not parties) should be held fully accountable

Abhisit/Suthep ordered the army in, with live ammo, and people were killed with the live ammo on April 10th.

Therefore based on this the Democrats should be dissolved and should have terrorism charges against them.

Using live ammo against protestors is designed to "terrorize" them with fear, thats what terror is.

If of course you wish to go down these silly emotional "thoughts for the moment" kind of nonsense.

I am amazed at some of the nonsense spouted on here.

Well, well, well. Terrorism? I do believe it was the reds who said they would attack the BTS stations and the BTS stations closed down. Oh I just remembered the BTS station was attacked resulting in death of the innocent and many injured. But I'm sure the reds had absolutely nothing to do with this right? It was just someone who happened to have a few M79s and was angry.

The Thai army has surrendered to a group of anarchists - this is what it all boils down to. This is simply not done unless there is some hidden agenda - Unless someone is controlling the game - in this case from Dubai.

No matter how you look at it, what the General said is very clear; no matter what the reds do, the army will not use force and if this isn't giving card blanch to them I don't know what it is.

The other night we did see Thais fighting Thais and killing Thais. Yet the army sat back and did nothing. I think that even if a full scale battle between red and yellows or pinks erupted the army would sit it out. The army is not willing to get involved. The whole city could burn and the army might just watch. This protest could go another month if the reds don't get bored.

Another way to put it is this protest could go on another month if Mr. T's money doesn't dry up.

I find it very odd that so many are against any intervening from the military??

So, it is normal that the reddies take a capital hostage and create chaos at their own content??

The military should intervene asap and with full force, blow them back to the rice paddies they came from.

Likewise I understand your frustration. The real culprits here are the red leaders who have filled the heads of these people with hate, lies and nonsense. I suppose there are some bad guys in the red crowd but all in all these are just poor farmers trying to make a few Baht that have been pumped full of this mess. Their emotions are peaked. Sad to say they do anything the red leaders tell them to. The army or police need to take out the leaders. I am not saying go in with guns blazing but these are very bad guys and need to be stopped. Arrest them get them off the scene and keep them in jail and it will all be over. The followers will go home as they have no one to tell them what to do.

"A good example are all the half completed roads which remain that way for years because the government funding "ran out" while the local Phuu Yai Baan's mia noi gets a nice new home or a pickup"

And therein lies a lot of the problems in the North and Isaan.....if you think Bkk people are corrupt they are rank amatuers compared to the Isaan Phuu Yai Baan's.....what about the Phuu Yai Baam who needed some roads built on ONE of his huge landholdings.....he hijacked the the funds from a 2 kilometre village road about to be built...and it keeps going on adinfinitum....lots of the contibutors on this forum should spend a month in Isaan (not in any bars) and see what it is really like for those poor people....they are being used in this protest by the aforesaid PYBs....and it all comes back to one thing...lack of education

I dont live in Isaan ....as my name suggest I live in Phuket but travel to Isaan to see some really good Thai friends who live there....and they are dirt poor but would give you the last food they had in the house and smile while you eat it

Could not have said it better myself. I have lived in Isaan for over ten years. You are spot on. These people are salt of the earth but just lack education and understanding of how government works. All they know is what they are told by the PYB and they do not question this as per their upbringing. It is sad to see the central government all the way down to the little PYB taking advantage of these people. But as discussed before, this is what the polititions want. Heaven forbid an educated voter.

Give you one example of how corrupt it is. About four years ago I went to the local Tomboon Authority and asked to see the books on monies coming in and monies going out. They laughed and said "impossible". I asked why and they kept repeating "impossible". I asked them how much money they received from the central government each month and they would not answer. Then I asked them to show me the salary of each person working for the local adminstration. They said "impossible" again.

MCOT: DIS: Detained Red Shirt ally Mathee confesses protesters seized army weapons during April 10 clashes, distributed them to use against troops

I'm sure he will be declared a fake red!

On Tuesday, an unknown group of people put up stickers on Silom Road saying that the red-shirt group wanted a new Thailand with Thaksin as president. A move like this suggests that the right wing and elitist forces are employing old tactics to label the opponents as anti-monarchists.

surely there should be charges against whoever made these stickers. It is obvious that it is the PAD as no Reds have been down there.

The area is under lockdown with cameras everywhere anyway.

If the reds did this it would be on tape?

So, the PAD are prepared to commit LM in order to preserve their place in the trough. Nice though that even some at the Nation are seeing through them.

Few at the top their need to be dispatched to calm this down. They are rabid lunatics and more and more (except the intellegent PAD followers on here) are seeing this.

If these are the Elite of Thailand in Silom reading and believing these posters, then they are obvisouly much thicker than the un-educated farmers they so despise. Are they really the worlds thickest Elite?

The gloves are coming off on the Elite side as they are nearing the end of their reign. no pretense now that Abhisit is in charge. Its PAD, Thaugsabun and some dissaffected (with Anupong) army commanders.

Airforce fired verbal warning this morning. In Thai terms, what he said was very strong. So, most of the Army cannot be relied on to shore them up forever, the airforce want to see common sense prevail and a political solution, the police are on the reds side and should not be underestimates and the Navy.. well nuff said.

Those of us who have been here a long time remember when they did actually confront each other!!

grandpops I have a very simple question for you. Easy to answer. The answer is either yes or no. Is Mt. T an Elite? I await your answer.

Pimay11

Failed. Now listen again. I say this often. Yes he is an elite!! he is a different elite and I don't want him back. I have been trying slowly today to give some of you newbies some grounding into these characters and why they hate Thaksin. He basically started shutting down one of the most corrupt autocratic regimes in the world. Any you missed all this because you think he dodged a bit of tax. Poor you, that you have to show your immaturity on here when you post.

Now read your lessons from today about the CRES and this man and tell me are you happy that he is running the country. I posted in depth about why these people fell out with Thaksin today .. on here. And you can't be bothered to read it

So http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suthep_Thaugsuban Nice man? I have been posting this today and nobody has stood up and commented positively on this post. Do you want to be the first.

NICE MAN YES OR NO?

Yes I will be the first. Suthep is a bad boy for sure. I was very dissapointed by Khun A. keeping him in his adminstration. He should not be in any position. In my opinion he should be in the Bangkok Hilton serving a long time. This is one reason the reds have credible repore with the pepole of Issan or anyone else. They see this guy as above the law and when they are caught on the local corner not wearing a helmet by the boys in brown they have to pay a days wages. The guy who works for me hates his guts and I cannot repeat here what he would like to happen to him.

I know there is a real gap between the haves and have nots in this country. After all I have lived in Isaan for over ten years.

In my opinion the real root cause of the gap falls directly on the current and previous governments. Historically every rulling party has not taken any intrest in educating the Thai people. If they can keep them ignorent (and I am not casting dispersions on my fellow Thais) they can control them with a few crumbs from the table.

In my opinion this is what Mr. T did best. He came up here to Isaan and personally handed out 5,000 to 10,000 Bhat to local people. Smart politition. But he took so much through corruption from these people.

And now this rally is only about getting him back ASAP. If it was for the right reasons I would be a number one supporter.

On Tuesday, an unknown group of people put up stickers on Silom Road saying that the red-shirt group wanted a new Thailand with Thaksin as president. A move like this suggests that the right wing and elitist forces are employing old tactics to label the opponents as anti-monarchists.

surely there should be charges against whoever made these stickers. It is obvious that it is the PAD as no Reds have been down there.

The area is under lockdown with cameras everywhere anyway.

If the reds did this it would be on tape?

So, the PAD are prepared to commit LM in order to preserve their place in the trough. Nice though that even some at the Nation are seeing through them.

Few at the top their need to be dispatched to calm this down. They are rabid lunatics and more and more (except the intellegent PAD followers on here) are seeing this.

If these are the Elite of Thailand in Silom reading and believing these posters, then they are obvisouly much thicker than the un-educated farmers they so despise. Are they really the worlds thickest Elite?

Here we go again. The "right wingers". Can we please leave the US politics out of the Thai politics???????????

grandpops please try to come up with a viable reply to posts without your personal labels of people who have a different opinion than that you.

It was in an article on here from the Nation. I didn't lable them right wingers, the Nation!!!!! yes you heard that right.... The Nation did. Read around a bit, I can't remember which thread its on.

The political battle becoming dirtier by the day

By Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

Published on April 22, 2010

It was post 205 on this thread. sorry, I thought you were following the thread

My apologies grandpops. I did not read this article. I stand corrected.

Pimay11

On Tuesday, an unknown group of people put up stickers on Silom Road saying that the red-shirt group wanted a new Thailand with Thaksin as president. A move like this suggests that the right wing and elitist forces are employing old tactics to label the opponents as anti-monarchists.

surely there should be charges against whoever made these stickers. It is obvious that it is the PAD as no Reds have been down there.

The area is under lockdown with cameras everywhere anyway.

If the reds did this it would be on tape?

So, the PAD are prepared to commit LM in order to preserve their place in the trough. Nice though that even some at the Nation are seeing through them.

Few at the top their need to be dispatched to calm this down. They are rabid lunatics and more and more (except the intellegent PAD followers on here) are seeing this.

If these are the Elite of Thailand in Silom reading and believing these posters, then they are obvisouly much thicker than the un-educated farmers they so despise. Are they really the worlds thickest Elite?

Here we go again. The "right wingers". Can we please leave the US politics out of the Thai politics???????????

grandpops please try to come up with a viable reply to posts without your personal labels of people who have a different opinion than that you.

Could you point out where Grandpops post brought in US politics?

No answer, pimay11???

You guys don't mind bashing posters, but don't like it when a few stand up to your pathetic bullying.

So, US politics??? You quoted him...!

I have answered my friend. Sorry you think I was bullying. I was just stating my opinion. Am I allowed to do this? And may I enquire the meaning of "you guys"?

On Tuesday, an unknown group of people put up stickers on Silom Road saying that the red-shirt group wanted a new Thailand with Thaksin as president. A move like this suggests that the right wing and elitist forces are employing old tactics to label the opponents as anti-monarchists.

surely there should be charges against whoever made these stickers. It is obvious that it is the PAD as no Reds have been down there.

The area is under lockdown with cameras everywhere anyway.

If the reds did this it would be on tape?

So, the PAD are prepared to commit LM in order to preserve their place in the trough. Nice though that even some at the Nation are seeing through them.

Few at the top their need to be dispatched to calm this down. They are rabid lunatics and more and more (except the intellegent PAD followers on here) are seeing this.

If these are the Elite of Thailand in Silom reading and believing these posters, then they are obvisouly much thicker than the un-educated farmers they so despise. Are they really the worlds thickest Elite?

Here we go again. The "right wingers". Can we please leave the US politics out of the Thai politics???????????

grandpops please try to come up with a viable reply to posts without your personal labels of people who have a different opinion than that you.

Could you point out where Grandpops post brought in US politics?

Gladly. This is a term which originated in the US. Anyone who does not agree with the left of center line of thinking is refered to as a right wing advocate. It has no place here in Thai politics. Google it. Right wing, left wing.

On Tuesday, an unknown group of people put up stickers on Silom Road saying that the red-shirt group wanted a new Thailand with Thaksin as president. A move like this suggests that the right wing and elitist forces are employing old tactics to label the opponents as anti-monarchists.

surely there should be charges against whoever made these stickers. It is obvious that it is the PAD as no Reds have been down there.

The area is under lockdown with cameras everywhere anyway.

If the reds did this it would be on tape?

So, the PAD are prepared to commit LM in order to preserve their place in the trough. Nice though that even some at the Nation are seeing through them.

Few at the top their need to be dispatched to calm this down. They are rabid lunatics and more and more (except the intellegent PAD followers on here) are seeing this.

If these are the Elite of Thailand in Silom reading and believing these posters, then they are obvisouly much thicker than the un-educated farmers they so despise. Are they really the worlds thickest Elite?

The gloves are coming off on the Elite side as they are nearing the end of their reign. no pretense now that Abhisit is in charge. Its PAD, Thaugsabun and some dissaffected (with Anupong) army commanders.

Airforce fired verbal warning this morning. In Thai terms, what he said was very strong. So, most of the Army cannot be relied on to shore them up forever, the airforce want to see common sense prevail and a political solution, the police are on the reds side and should not be underestimates and the Navy.. well nuff said.

Those of us who have been here a long time remember when they did actually confront each other!!

grandpops I have a very simple question for you. Easy to answer. The answer is either yes or no. Is Mt. T an Elite? I await your answer.

Pimay11

On Tuesday, an unknown group of people put up stickers on Silom Road saying that the red-shirt group wanted a new Thailand with Thaksin as president. A move like this suggests that the right wing and elitist forces are employing old tactics to label the opponents as anti-monarchists.

surely there should be charges against whoever made these stickers. It is obvious that it is the PAD as no Reds have been down there.

The area is under lockdown with cameras everywhere anyway.

If the reds did this it would be on tape?

So, the PAD are prepared to commit LM in order to preserve their place in the trough. Nice though that even some at the Nation are seeing through them.

Few at the top their need to be dispatched to calm this down. They are rabid lunatics and more and more (except the intellegent PAD followers on here) are seeing this.

If these are the Elite of Thailand in Silom reading and believing these posters, then they are obvisouly much thicker than the un-educated farmers they so despise. Are they really the worlds thickest Elite?

Here we go again. The "right wingers". Can we please leave the US politics out of the Thai politics???????????

grandpops please try to come up with a viable reply to posts without your personal labels of people who have a different opinion than that you.

Anyone is allowed an opinion on the current political circus in Thailand. To say go home, or kick them out is to deny people the right to protest what they see as unjust. I am sure in other less developed regimes they would simply send in the troops and create a bloodbath, but that is not really smart is it? You have a country that has painted over the cracks in its political dam for so many years, that it is now crumbling from within, and all you can post is "get out". I know that many of you will simply say I am a red shirt loony farang, or some other "soundbite" throw away comment that has become so popular amongst posters. How about seeing this situation as an opportunity for Thailand to sit down and have a good look at its political structures, and ask itself how can we change things so that people of different shirt colors cannot paralyze the country anytime they feel aggrieved, and that other less confrontational options are available for them to be heard. How about fixing the illness rather than the symptoms, and that begins with the political structures themselves. Everyone it seems in Thailand is talking, and no one is listening whether red, yellow or polka dots.

warman your suggestion is a good one to some extent and agreed that a group of angry people should not be able to shut down the country. But you have to remember the reds did not start their demonstrations in Bangkok (this time) until the courts ruled to sieze Mr. T's money. Immediately after this court action this fiasco began. If they would drop the demand of an immediate house dissolusion which is easily seen through and disown Mr. T they would gain credibility with a lot of Thai people. But as we all know this is not their MO.

Nutthawut to Allow Soldiers to Proceed to Southern Border Provinces

BANGKOK: -- Key red-shirt leader Nutthawut Saigua has ordered, via a telephone-link, the red-shirt protesters who are gathering at Khon Kaen train station to allow the train carrying soldiers, military equipment and supplies to pass through to the southern border provinces.

However, Nutthawut demanded that a number of red-shirt protesters be allowed to accompany the train to ensure that the soldiers were not going to be sent as reinforcement for military forces that are being assembled to allegedly prepare to disperse the red-shirt protesters in Bangkok.

Unbelievable! What kind Commander in Chief would allow a two bit tin horn like Nutthawut dictate to the army where their troups can go and under what conditions? Try this in any other contry and sit back and watch what happens.

Not such considerations were brought up when the from economic terrorism crimes suspect foreign minister Kasit occupied the airports and declared it fun.

Not such considerations when the yellow shirts occupied government house and sat in the middle of the road near MBK (Same district) for many many months.

Stop crying crocodile tears. The court could end this stand off just as quickly as they did it with Samak.

Disband the Democrat party, the offenses were committed from 2005 onwards which means that we are getting rid of Chuan, Abhisit, Sanan (who was still a DP member) people like Suthep and many many others.

We could start with a almost complete clean sheet of new fresh politicians.

Of course we could. Why didn't we think of this. How stupid of us. New politicians with Mr. T as the ultimate CEO leader.

By the way please post links to back up your accusations of offenses of Chuan and Abhisit?

Don't you realize that you have just made a statement showing what those red thugs are really about?

Sending their daughters to work in brothels or bars shows how morally clean these knuckleheads are and by the way, they do so not to buy food but to have that new TV or motorcycle - as I said before, had a factory with more than 100 employees and we had to pay them twice a month because even though we had free decent accommodation rent free for them on top of 6k a month wages some 12 years ago + insurance + holiday pay - they were never able to manage their money and all, wit no exception owed to the money lender. Booze, women and gambling were their priorities - in short - sanook - work came way down the list and saving wasn't even on it.

Even among those couples who together earned over 12k a month and lived rent free a lot of daughters were working in Pat Pont or Cowboy -

I know personally two companies, one in the UK and another in Germany who used to import Thai made products. They have all switched to India, Bali, Sri Lanka, Vietnam .. because labor is a lot cheaper and quality better. Bali produces far better wood work products than Thailand and cheaper where India is a lot cheaper and makes a huge variety of products. Now, lets not forget China, much lower labor costs than in Thailand. They also have cheap highly skilled labor.

The tourism industry is what provides a good living for those Isaani knucklehead red shirts (this does of course only mean the minority making the trouble) - government figures/percentages can not include the "grey" income from tourism since none of the hookers, soup stalls, souvenier shops, massage parlors, taxis, rental shops etc etc etc pay any taxes and do not register their income.

Most of the workers in the tourist industry are from Isaan and their own people, the red shirts are busy destroying their source of income

Investors looking at Thailand with higher wages, more restrictions and lots of trouble on the streets ( I refuse to call it political trouble because this has nothing to do with politics) caused by armed thugs will not be impressed

Your words disgust me.

Who are the real thugs when people have been repressed, suppressed and oppressed for years?

And what you would spend your money on if you earned less than 200 dollars/month. What would you suggest they do? Save 500 baht/month for 80 years so they can buy a house?

Seems like your only interest here is the availability of cheap labour and your self gain. We know your priorities and hence your opinions.

And don't say in your reply "200 dollars/month is a reasonable wage in this country". I'm merely asking what you would spend this money on. Please tell me.

Again bangkoklight I agree with your statement about the thugs repressing the poor people of this country. But this is not what the red rally is about. Surely you can see this right?

Culprits fired RPG at PTT petrol depots in Pathum Thani

These are the things those reds are up to now. If the tank had blown it would have caused huge loss of life.

Now I'm just waiting for those reds here to cme out of their holes and say "oh tha government did this to discredit the red " such a statement wouldn't surprise me at all

The reds can end all this now by simply leaving and going home - anything that happens when the government /army moves in to clear them is 100% their fault

Get the <deleted>.. out of Bangkok

News to your ears eh BKjohn? If the tank had blown... If these people weren't repressed in the first place... If they got a fair wage for the work they did... If they didn't have the send their daughters to work in the sex industry in the City to make ends meet... With all these "ifs", you can see the "whys".

bangkoklight if your explaination of the reason for the protest was correct you would not have anyone on this forum disagreeing with you. But surely you are not naive enough to believe what you have written. As has been stated a zillion or so times it is all about Mr. T coming back and getting his billions back plus paying off his minions.

Congratulations to the NBT! There must be some real "smart party" people working at that one-sided news agency. Why can't they report on the fact that the class divide in Thailand will ultimately leave the country behind its regional neighbours, who are getting their act together with social reform, social welfare programmes, and infrastructure projects.

In the short-term the economy will suffer, yes. So a few hotels are being disrupted. I think people need to look at the bigger picture; Thailand as a whole with the majority of its people working in the agricultural sector - the heart of the economy.

And all social revolutions cause disruption to the economy (and to society), like all storms cause damage to the environment. But in the long-term, as ecologists know, storms are part of the life creating cycle, producing greater biodiversity and opportunities for new species to thrive. In the case of a social revolution, an opportunity for the lower classes to climb out the poverty trap and show their true potential - for the benefit of the whole. This is how the developed nations of the world came about.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What revolution ???

This is not a revolution, but a criminal mob that is rioting in Bangkok. This is nothing but "lazy bumb's of Isaan unite" and lets have "papa Thaksin for president because he is going to give us money again so we can buy more lau kao"

The stickers are up already, which you will of course say were placed by the government .....

A revolution, if you look back in history has in virtually all cases emerged from the student classes - the governments of countries which fell to revolutions had usually a very bad record of treating their people and any attempt at voicing a problem in public was severely dealt with. Demonstrations, no matter how peaceful were immediately dispersed and leaders arrested and executed - see Pinochet in Chile or the French revolution.

Those Isaanies have been rioting for months now and had they really been peaceful and not been aggressive with the aim to cause damage, nothing would happen to them. They are neither demonstrators not are they revolutionaries they do deserve neither name but they are a criminal bunch of rioters on the payroll of Thaksin cocooned in a protective mantel of Isaan's dumbest who simply like the cash

BKjohn a little different perspective of the lazy bumbs of Isaan unite as you say. You have to remember 90% of the people who have left Isaan for the rally have a fourth grade education. Not their fault. My father had an eight grade education due to economic issues back on the farm in 1915. The same applies for these folks. They may not have a highschool education but they recognize a money making scheme when they see one. After all, at this time there is absolutely nothing they can do here due to a late rainy season. So why not join a protest, whatever the cause and make 500 or so Bhat a day and free food. As for being lazy when the rice planting and harvesting season is upon us these people work 14/16 hours a day every day in blistering heat to make sure they have food for another year. I can't agree they are lazy, they just do not have steady work. And yes they drink a lot but what else is there to do. The sad part is that they do not understand they are now in grave danger and have let these red leaders fill them with lies and peaked their emotions to a frenzy. Sad but true.

THE NATION: Arisman has threatened that red "army" will carry out "special ops" tonite, seizing ambulances and military vehicles.

This is the kind of guy everyone wants for their next door neighbor. I'm sure glad the reds are carrying on a peaceful rally. No telling what it would be if it was violent.

Am still surprised there is electric power for the stages. If the power is coming in on cables, cut the cables. If it's generators, disable the generators (snipers, sabateurs?). Without microphones and PA system the Red movement will crumple faster than a blimp out of gas. Thai public speakers (and musicians) cannot function without a mic and PA system. If you don't believe me, ask yourself, have you ever heard a Thai musician performing (or a public speaker) without a PA system? Didn't think so.

This part has always baffled me, they just seem to be tapping into power lines where ever the want and just set stuff up where ever they choose and nobody stops it.. it simply is not that hard to turn off the power as it were and make them sit around listening to their own thoughts... that would send a lot more home.. right now many of them are being fired up on a daily basis by a long list of lies being repeated over and over again...

It is true the numbers have dropped a huge amount. My last drive by on the fly over on Petchaburi by Ratchadamre I could see over the little hill that empties out by Platinum and a fair ways down the road, this was on Monday, a week ago on the same fly over it was jammed and red shirts as far as the eye could see there is no doubt for whatever reasons the numbers are way way down in that area

Concerning the turning off of the power. This is the Thai way to gain power for a concert or any other event that requires power. They have a local electrician to connect into the power cables coming down the power pole above the local meter. It is called free power. I have seen it done many, many times here in Isaan. EGAT would have to kill the power to the street they are on to shut them down.

"No, it is a paid protest where the organizers have collected the ID cards of the people that are paid to be there."

Right on the money. The Thai guy who works for me said when his friends joined the red rally the reds collected their government ID cards and issued them Red ID cards. Of course this cost each of them 50 Bhat. I just wonder when they go back home will the reds give back the government issued ID cards.

Red-shirt leader Chat says he will not report to emergency command

BANGKOK: -- Pol Lt Gen Chat Kuldirok, a red-shirt leader, said Saturday that he will not report himself to the Emergency Operations Command.

Chat, a former commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, said he received the summon order of the EOC Saturday morning but he would not meet EOC officials at the 11th Infantry Regiment as summoned.

Chat said he feared that he would be arrested and taken to be detained at a military camp in Chon Buri.

He said he preferred to wait for the court issue an arrest warrant against him instead.

As more information comes out as to who is who in the red movement, if it wasn't so serious it would be funny.

Any idea as to why the police action failed at the SC Hotel anyone? Here we have a Pol Lt Gen as red leader with the police going to arrest other red leaders undercover. Talk about Keystone Cops.

And if he is not willing to surrender now what makes anyone think he will surrender after an arrest warrent is issued? Does the arrest warrent assure him he will not be taken to the military camp in Chon Buri? What a joke.

What are the yellows??

Burr,

the Yellows are/were the crowd the Bangkok Bandits wheel out when they lose an election. Unlike the Reds, the army does not shoot them when they occupy an airport, etc.

Most of the farang posters here seem to be right-wing authoritarians who have not a clue about democracy. In a real democracy, ultimate political power is the will of the majority of people, as expressed at the ballot-box. It is not some elevated elite possessing unlimited money, troops, tanks, guns, & English-language newspapers.

I see one of the latter has dubbed the Red-supporting majority of Thailand as 'terrorists'. Nice one for all authoritarian anti-democrats. It's a simple 'law 'n order' situation, so bring on more firepower! Were Adolf Hitler & Joe Stalin alive, they would be cheering behind you.

By all means let the legal attrition against Ole Squarehead continue. Meantime, howsabout a free election, dudes?

I get really angry when I read ignorant comments like this.

Oldgit - you have absolutely no idea, do you? Were you around when Thaksin was in power? Were you paying attention? Thaksin was more of an authoritarian than Abhisit will ever be. Do you honestly think Thailand was ruled democratically when the red hero was in power? Did you completely miss the intimidation of the press and the opposition, the manipulation of the courts, the use of goverment powers for private profit, the extra-judicial killings? Have you ever read Thaksin's words about democracy while he was ruling the roost? Not exactly a hero of democracy back then and hardly one now ... more like a hero of hypocrisy. I am hardly a right wing authoritarian, but I despise the red shirt leaders who are nothing but a bunch of thugs and wouldn't know democracy if they were choking on it. They are in it for themselves - period! The rural poor have legitimate beefs, but it is sad that their cause has fallen prey to the likes of Thaksin and all the other scumbag red leadership.

By the way, dude ... the current parliament consists of people who were elected in the last election in which the red shirt party (Pheua Thai) won more seats than any other party but not a majority, so a democrat-led coalition was formed when the Pheua Thai lost the support of the minority parties. That's how a parliamentary democracy works - look it up! But no! You and the reds would have the PM dissolve a constitutionally elected government just because a bunch of demagogues have convinced a bunch of gullible people to roam around the city blocking roads, defacing public property, launching grenades, and performing barbaric blood rituals. You call that democracy - seriously?

I submit that it is you, oldgit, that don't have a clue about democracy, not those of us who are attempting to call attention to the hypocrisy of the UDD leaders.

If I remember correctly, there was talk about million dollar payoffs and some military "intervention" involved in this "democratic" coalition that was built. Also rumored that threats against family members might be involved. But of course not of this can be proven....one way or the other. And yes, these blood "rituals" are a sign of democracy...it is called free speach. SO now maybe you will explain to me why after two years, the yellow shirt leaders are still waiting for trial...me thinks that they will be waiting for a long time.

Rumores are a dime a dozen. Doesn't prove anything. To quote Sgt. Friday "Only the facts Mam, only the facts". And of course blood "rituals" are a sure sign of democracy. They take place quite frequently in all democratic countries but at the moment my memory fails me. Can you please tell me one democratic country where this has taken place?

The UDD leaders champion democracy as their cause but when someone disagrees with them they attack them. True democracy for sure NOT!

I agree with you on the yellow shirts. They should have had their day in court a long time ago.

I'm sick of all this Red Shirt BS, Thailand has lost their way and will take a long time to recover. I am very sorry for those that died senseless deaths in this cause.

Agreed. Senseless deaths for some guy living the good life trying to manipulate these poor people to get his money back. What a shame.

What are the yellows??

Burr,

the Yellows are/were the crowd the Bangkok Bandits wheel out when they lose an election. Unlike the Reds, the army does not shoot them when they occupy an airport, etc.

Most of the farang posters here seem to be right-wing authoritarians who have not a clue about democracy. In a real democracy, ultimate political power is the will of the majority of people, as expressed at the ballot-box. It is not some elevated elite possessing unlimited money, troops, tanks, guns, & English-language newspapers.

I see one of the latter has dubbed the Red-supporting majority of Thailand as 'terrorists'. Nice one for all authoritarian anti-democrats. It's a simple 'law 'n order' situation, so bring on more firepower! Were Adolf Hitler & Joe Stalin alive, they would be cheering behind you.

By all means let the legal attrition against Ole Squarehead continue. Meantime, howsabout a free election, dudes?

Tom thank you for this...I cannot believe some of the comments from the authoritarian right wing-nuts...but they are highly selective in their calls for punishment...

Tom and/or Burr can you please explain the difference in a right wing nut and a left wing nut? This is not a slur or flame, I would really like to know your answer.

I may be wrong but no one is planting or harvesting rice in issan at the moment and it is dry season I thought that planting was done between june and july and harvest between october and december ?

You are right Tony. The article is written by a gullible farang journalist with little or no knowledge of Thailand. More than one crop per year is not feasible in most of Isaan and certainly not in Surin. The income from attending the rallies is extremely welcome to most Isaan farmers because they have nothing much else to do at the moment.

Actually the planting season here depends on when the rain starts. Normally it is May-July. You are correct on the harvest season, October-December.