RJF

I feel there is a huge difference when looking at these sad and unnecessary stories from both sides: the police men had no choice. They were simply sent in to do their job. The protesters did have a choice. They came here, often from far away, to protest in an illegal manner and violating a state of emergency, thereby accepting the risk of violence and injury. I am not saying they deserve it and every tragedy is one too many, but I do feel this difference should be pointed out.

3,000 Bhat, that is around 70 Euro? OK, that's one of the brown and one of the blue notes bottom left in the picture and that'll do it then. We'll see him back quite soon I expect. Did they have the smarts to at least confiscate the merchandise or did they wrap it up and send it out with him I wonder?

Suthep hits the nail on the head , make or break time , unless Suthep can muster the crowd of plenty , the momentum has been lost , so if you are a Suthep follower back your man, as Elvis sang "It's now or Never",

It's never make or break though is it? If it's not 'make', and it never has been and never will be, it's also not 'break', is it? It will just drag on, as it did after all the other 'final pushes, final battles and D-Days' and other types of makes or breaks that Suthep ever announced. I wish it was make or break, because I really don't care which money grabbing gang wins this battle, as long as order and peace is restored.

In any other country you'd expect this then to actually happen. Or, if not, there'd be widespread criticism of failing to meet the objective the day after deadline. I find it fascinating how, in Thailand, officials can just keep making these sort of statements and setting all sorts of deadlines, and then they have already forgotten about them before they even pass. For all I know, on the 19th, we'll see police inviting the protesters onto government property and hugging and flower exchanges, followed by a joint som tam eating party or so. And after that nothing changes. It is truly an amazing country isn't it?

All problems in Thai society are ultimately caused by farangs. Or failing that, by the Japanese. Cambodians. Burmese. Aboriginals. Just not Thais, never Thais.

This is getting bizarre.

A monk who is directing the traffic.

A deaf ear medicine abuser who leads the police.

A protest leader who is concerned about painted images.

A Prime Minister, who operates black magic.

Rice Farmers as beggars at the airport.

I hope Thailand can solve this mess.

Also known as 'Amazing Thailand'

'Executives of Dusit Thani hotel were summoned to clarify the Department of Special Investigation for giving the PDRC to use its facilities and stay overnight'

The hotel can have a lot of fun with this I think: 'so why do you provide a room to Khun Suthep then?' 'Because he still has not been arrested by you guys, in spite of a multitude of arrest warrants. But he usually has breakfast here at 7am, why don't you guys join him then and provide him with some alternative accommodation?' .....uuuuhhhh.....

Well, if this poltical BS drags on much longer, they'll be empty industrial estates.

I like how they only mention facebook as the way to send information to the police.

Facebook is the best way as there were thousands, if not millions of pics out there and these guys (as any good cop know) did not just appear and dissapear at Lak Si.

They were other places first, en route and after and this is where they pick them up without masks on.

Police have got quite a few of them now, wonder if they'll get him before he is dissaperared!

You may want to distinguish between the police publishing the pictures on Facebook and the police asking to only send tips via a Facebook private message. And yes, I hope they get him too. What are the chances though? It seems arrest teams are put together on a near daily basis, yet I believe no one that broke the law related to the protests has been arrested yet. It's either utter incompetence or there are forces behind the scene working their magic. My money is on the latter.

This was from last monday. They must have forgotten about this. I recommend we deal with the existing ultimatums first before we issue new ones.

"The siege of government installations must end. In 72 hours from now, units of raiders will be dispatched to round up the protesters. This is not a threat, but a warning 72 hours in advance," said Chalerm, also the caretaker Labour Minister.

Hard to believe there are still Suthep supporters on this forum, amazing!

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As Grouco Marx would have put it, "There ain't no Sanity Clause". I sometimes wonder if the tiny handful of pro-Suthep trolls are just advertisers trying to keep the traffic on their ads up. I mean, no one could seriously believe some of the guff they come out with.

Well UK Foreign Secretary William Hague has just released strong statement urging Thais to uphold democracy.

Add that to USA on Monday, Human Rights Watch, UN, EU and Suthep is pretty much going it alone here with his elites.

I too find id hard to believe that westerners could support Suthep and try and justify it in writing. Every post though just shows the shallowness of the argument. 2010 Thaksinistas, man in Dubai ref. etc. It also shows they have dreadfully poor understanding of Thai 20th Century politics and structures.

Other than not realising reform actually started with Thaksin last decade or realising times change and the Thails have had enough of their elite elders and betters, they are pretty much on the ball

Human Rights Watch, The English, The Americans, UN, EU...well, it won't be long before they will start blaming all this on the farangs then. Oh, here we go...just in...

BANGKOK: -- The struggle between the caretaker administration and the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) will last another three to six months, PDRC key member Anek Nakabut predicted Wednesday.

"A decisive moment will only come in three to six months," Anek, who played a part in the 1973 revolt, said.

Anek, speaking at a symposium on "learning from the great mass of people", organised by the Rung Arun School, blamed foreign powers for being behind the ills of Thai politics - not just the incumbent administration and fugitive former PM Thaksin Shinawatra. However, he did not elaborate what role these foreign powers play in Thai politics.

This power hungry scoundrel is getting more and more out of control.

scoundrel is the perfect word for him....

I thought they were going to arrest him within 72 hours?

For any ultimatums issued in LOS, Thai timing applies. This is very convenient as it makes them completely flexible and no one has to take responsibility.

What happened to the 72 hr ultimatum then?

I meet every week pedalists on their way in Sukhumvit. I'm always surprised. They are high so as they can, very expensive bikes and equipments. Many ages from young to old, women and men. But what are they think? What kind of air are they breath? In my car the outside air is closed from I received the car in salon. I have no idea. This is a new high so fashion, but a bit dangerous. And what are they enjoy? May be when they are finished and get home.

Buddy, if you know how to properly drive 'your car', using caution and mirrors and all, staying within the white/yellow lines that are painted on the road for a reason, cycling in Thailand would not be dangerous at all! Unfortunately, quite a few of the Thai drivers transform from a humble 'sabai krup, kap khun krap' to maniac tendencies as soon as they take place behind the steering wheel of a car.

You have to be crazy to want to ride a bicycle on the roads in Thailand.

Almost as crazy as those who want to ride motorcycles.

Personally, I refuse to get on a motorcycle or behind the wheel of a car in Thailand.

So how do you get around in that case? Bus? Van? Taxi? With a Thai driver, right? Driving yourself is no guarantee nothing will happen, but I estimate that when I drive myself instead of letting a Thai drive me, I cut down the accident risk by about 50%.

Back to topic, very tragic accident, RIP. But a lot of people cycle here without too much problems. Many roads have wide shoulders that are good for riding. I ride around 5,000 km a year in Thailand. If Thai drivers would take some notice of that white paint on the road, that would really be nice - it's there for a reason. But most drivers are aware and polite. Any (near) mishaps here are usually caused by stupidity rather than aggression, like in some Western countries. Thai driving standards are in serious need of an upgrade though, there's a reason they are 3rd worst for road accidents here.

As someone who is not taking sides in this conflict, I do find it highly ironic she addresses Obama, of all people. A man from a party that had to endure the Republican Bush clan government for 8 years. But when the economy was down the drain and things were truly screwed up, he addressed the public with a message that resonated. He convinced and encouraged the people to vote for him. This is how change was established in the USA. Perhaps an idea for Thailand as well?

'One more person out of touch with reality.'

Indeed

'Why then after the rallies in May the economy in Bangkok and the rest of the country plummeted?'

Somehow you must have missed the growth of the Thai economy and the strength of the Baht.

There are people who overstay unintentionally. If they are sick or misunderstand the requirements of their visa for example. However, I can understand why Immigration has tightened the laws.

Don't you think it is someone's personal responsibility to know how long they can legally stay and act according to that? Come on...

T+L explains

http://blog.travelandleisureasia.com/destination/2010/07/15/bangkok-tl%e2%80%99s-world%e2%80%99s-best-city-the-why%e2%80%99s-and-how%e2%80%99s/

This just in from T+L:

http://blog.travelandleisureasia.com/destination/2010/07/15/bangkok-tl%e2%80%99s-world%e2%80%99s-best-city-the-why%e2%80%99s-and-how%e2%80%99s/