Herm

A Red classic -

Wow, this is a powerful video for those who understand Thai.

Defense lawyers will have quite a job defending against this evidence - even William Kuntzler in a New York court would find it difficult to come up with any defense

The idiot will probably be done for Incitement to looting and arson which would be a crime in the UK as well - it said nowhere that he actually was charged with doing it.

As far as the incitement charge is concerned, very difficult to deny this one.

If he pleads not guilty - about 1 year in jail until trial, considering the evidence at which point he will be found guilty and probably get 2-4 years - if he pleads guilty, he'll probably get away with 1-2 years. An expensive lesson for extreme stupidity - happy spooning

The Thai Bhat is not strong, Euro, $ and Sterling are week - however, some factors are always wrong with official figures in Thailand.

The 6% tourism income of GDP figure does only include the large hotels and venues which pay taxes. The whole "gray" market that does not is obviously not included such as most restaurants, bars, service industry, shops ... etc... they all either pay no taxes or fiddle them.

I would put the real figure at somewhere around 20+ %

Thai tourism has survived just about everything over the last 20 years, but this time its different. I do not think the government will be able to restore "trust" back into tourists this year. May be if the country remains calm, by next year one can hope for a decent season again. The expensive baht also makes a holiday in Thailand very costly which will have a negative effect on tourism as well as on exports in general. The only solution would be a devaluation of the Baht which I daubed the government will initiate.

Add to this the external problems not related to Thailand, like economic disasters like the Euro crises and the island Volcano which is going to create continuous problems for a long time to come and peoples fear to get stranded far away from home ...

To think that we will have an OK season this year would be more than optimistic ...

Thaksin talked of guerrilla tactics, but again, to what end? They will still have to win an election.

So what now?

I think we will.

No they don't.

Be careful people.

I'm pretty sure it is over, Thaksin and the reds have lost, largely due to their own incompetence. The term being a "red" has now become an insult in Thailand meaning "being really, really stupid and violent"

The next elections will result in a landslide win for Abhisit who has proven his cool "chaa yen yen" and his care for the people not matter how dumb they are. He could have easily stopped this much quicker and with much more loss of life and most Thai's know this, but he is "Jai dee"

The final nail in the red's coffin was the looting and burning at the end which showed their real nature and way of thinking (if one can call it that) to the population in general and any small level of sympathy that may have existed disappeared in a flash.

Even a guerrilla war needs support within a large part of the population within the area it takes place like the Muslim population in the south show for the insurgents. The "red's" simply do not have this. In the south it's based on religion which can be a strong motivator, the "red's" have no legitimizing factor any more, well, never really had but were fooled by the rhetoric of their masters.

Been living here a very long time, in my opinion, the biggest problem in Thailand is the inability to use logic by most Thais which is not limited to the poor classes. This combined with short term thinking has held the whole country back somewhat.

Thaksin and the red shirt leaders are the best example of the inability to think logical and long term. Had they, instead of inciting hate with their speeches, insisted on a Gandhi style passive demonstration, they may have in the end succeeded, but in typical Thai manner, greed and emotions took over and in the end they lost.

The short term thinking is a typical Asean thing, One simple example, large Hotels are build without triple glazing because of initial cost, not realizing that this would be recouped within a short term and thereafter with energy savings .... the thinking is "I want it now.."

At the schooling level this is reflected by parents, especially within the up country and farming communities in the North East, that a new motorcycle is more important than "wasting" money or time on education for their children, passing the responsibility on to the government. However, even if, as is the case in Thailand, the government pays for the lot, children are often truant for many days because of some chores they have to do for the parents and leave school early to make money in some low grade job, but its money NOW

Abhisit has already reforms in place improving access to schooling and there are more coming, but what good does this do if a large proportion of the parents don't care ?

Democrats Link Riots with Red-shirt Networks Overseas

The ruling Democrat Party suggests red-shirt elements overseas have also played a part in the recent riots in Bangkok.

Democrat spokesperson Buranut Samutharuk said his party has obtained evidence that red-shirt networks overseas have incited anti-government protesters to stage mayhem in Bangkok.

Buranat indicated that the red-shirt networks have encouraged the protesters to stage arson attacks on shopping malls and banks.

Buranut revealed the suggestions on arson attacks were made through a website called NorPorChorUSA2.com. The website has already been blocked by the Thai authorities.

The party spokesman said the interview of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra with Asia Times magazine over his alleged order for red-shirt protesters to spread violence if they are dispersed will be used as evidence in an ongoing investigation against the former premier.

Buranut also said the Foreign Ministry has received full co-operation from European countries to restrict Thaksin's movement and ensure their countries are not being used as a springboard for political attacks against Thailand.

France has recently issued a ban on Thaksin from delivering a speech at a seminar on the political crisis in Thailand. He then reportedly flew to London.

-- Tan Network 2010-05-22

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

UK took away his visas some time ago , so they wont let him in, he may fly there but they wont let him land

Considering the UK is still suffering from 13 years of labor incompetence and that he is legally a Montenegran, they will probably let him in. Don't forget, he is currently only charged with corruption and a mini sentence of 2 years. Once terrorism charges and an arrest warrant is logged with Interpol, it becomes a whole new game - only Montenegro will be safe for him since they do not have an extradition treatment with Thailand and he is officially a citizen.

As a terrorist, he can't fly so he is stuck in France till Thai Government is working on the extradition process. But knowing him he already flee and in hiding again

He's got his own plane, he can fly anywhere.

oh . . . even better if the landing permission is not granted

he has enough money to buy air fuel !

Great, next time he takes off, all countries deny landing rights, kind of like a half way ticket for us commoners.

For those critical of the EU, just this morning they made a strong call for action in Bangkok, two days after it's all over.

Once Thaksin is charged with Terrorism his life will become miserable. This should happen within the coming week. He will not be able to travel to any European countries or to the US without risking being detained. I today's world, terrorism is not viewed lightly and they will detain him on extradition charges.

Montenegro will soon be his permanent residence - but than again, with his money .....

millions will rise if the army does a crackdown - Chiang Mai railway station, the 100-strong crowd chanted loudly,

and that is in one of their so called strongholds!! No need to say more

Just watched the video what a <deleted> easy to identify and more work for the Embassy soon ..... - don't forget he violated the emergency law and called for looting and arson ... would be heading to the nearest green border if I was him

ohhh, a couple of years "spooning" in Klong Prem prison (aka Bangkok Hilton) will cure him - than deportation to the UK and being black listed here so he can never return

The UK government should consider if such an embarrassment to the country should not have his passport removed for live - keep hm in the UK

I'm surprised by the statement of the OP "deadly crackdown by the army". Considering the number of rioters involved and the level of aggression I would say that the army was extremely careful to keep deaths and injuries to an absolute minimum.

Thaksin has made another very bad investment. The leaders of the mob made a major mistake. They called , surely under Thaksins leadership, for violence from the beginning, threatening even to burn down the malls etc..

Had they instead put the emphasis on peace and made sure that not a single gun was within their compound, no resistance was offered to the authorities but a passive resistance offered like Ghandi did, they might have actually had a chance of success.

It would have been impossible for the government to remove them with force and the continued obstruction of Bangkok's business district would have eventually caused the Bangkok residents to call for a solution putting pressure on Abhisit to comply with their demands without a way out.

I think Thaksin underestimated Abhisits resolve and underestimated him as the statesman he is. By the latest actions of the wild, looting and burning mob, any legitimacy of the whole protest has been removed and the real, ugly face behind the whole sordid affair been exposed, removing most of any support it had at the beginning.

Thaksin is now facing charges of terrorism which can of course easily be backed up by the money trail, another thing he is apparently not very good at, money laundering. Having those charges over his head, his life will be a lot more difficult since many countries who may have been reluctant to extradite him on the corruption charges will be much more inclined to detain and extradite him on terrorist charges.

He may be restricted to 3 or 4 countries and hope that his jet will not run into any technical difficulties while flying over other nations.

The attempted coup's "grass roots" support (if it ever existed) is clearly not evident now. There are no masses uprising in the provinces, not even in Thaksins home province.

I think that by Monday "normalcy" will be restored and the long road to healing the country start. Abnisit will be able to implement his reforms (which he was already doing anyway) and once the people realize that he is a new, much more progressive leader with the whole country's well being on his mind and not like Thaksin who had turned Thailand into his own PLC, a new, much more stable Thailand will emerge. The"old fatheads" who of course supported Thaksin are going to be in exile with him or in prison, but in any case out of Thailand's politics.

I am sorry guys, but I just don't think it's truly that dangerous. IMHO, many of you sound like chicken little. Be that as it may, I think the smarter approach would be for them to warn people of the potential "peril." and let them decide for themselves. This is not about me parking my bottom on a bar stool. This is about personal freedom, which does exist, even in Thailand to some extent.

Obituary : He didn't think it was dangerous even though a curfew was in place

This has nothing to do with being chicken, but with common sense and realizing that there is a valid reason for the curfew so the army can do their job and kill the bastards without having to worry about a Thai, a journalist or westerner getting hurt by accident - it does also help to identify those motherfuc,,,ers because they will be the only ones on the street besides the armed forces andpolice - do you understand the reasoning behind this?

Great news for Pattaya already on its knees, now this, way over the top

Selfish attitude. But, what can one expect from the typical Pattaya Farang?

News Flash: This isn't over. There is still fighting, burning and looting going on. My GF's brother is a CID Bangkok cop undercover with the redshirts, monitoring and reporting on their continuing activities. It's turning into a guerilla war. He told her this morning, that the authorities believe that Bangkok will not be completely safe for some time to come, maybe years.

So, a curfew should be the least of your worries.

I daubed that very much. To do so, they would need wide support among the Bangkok population and you can rest assured they do not have this. Rather the opposite - wherever they are spotted, phone calls flood the emergency number. Even the Isaanies in Bangkok who work here and did not take part in this mob are fat up with them and now they are nothing but a looting, rioting mob with any trace of demonstrators vanished. Looting gold shops and torching them, looting banks to empty the ATM machines and setting buildings on fire means that they are nothing but groups of criminals on the rampage. They have no major support in Bangkok nor in the provinces except by other criminals who may join them to try and make money.

The army has orders to shoot to kill and any westerner here who still feels he can go out during the curfew can feel free to do so but should not complain after when he gets into the way of those looters who will love to shoot at him - but don't complain after when your ass has been shot off by them.

Looks like the curfew has upset a few farangs.

I think their is a serious reason though why the curfew has been extended for another 3 nights.

All is not well in LOS.

To be out and about during a curfew, you are putting small value on your life.

If you so wish to risk your life in pursuit of pleasure, then so be it.

Many Farangs are like Abhisit, they underestimate the seriousnes and situation.

indeed, but ive had to work all week - so it is slightly annoying to say its safe enough to work but not have a social life in the evening at the weekend.

In case you haven't noticed, the country is in deep <deleted> and 3 or so day's without hitting the bars will not kill you, a bunch of the terrorists will and if they are not stopped you won't want to be here anymore.

Keep you ass at home for a coupple more day's so the army can do its job and hopefully kill all those looting and torching bastards and the country recover from this Thasksin induced mess.

What makes you think the police aren't redshirt supporters?

Chiang Mai is a rebel stronghold.

It only appears to be foreigners in CM who think the redshirts are wrong.

When/If the redshirts win, lets hope they don't throw all foreigners out of the country because some foreigners can't control their mouths.

You are making one error here; If the red shirts / Thaksin should succeed in toppling the government, farangs would leave Thailand anyway, take their businesses and jobs they created for Thais and take them to Laos or Vietnam or Malaysia, where farangs are not called farangs and are far more welcome than in this country under the best of times, because nobody would want to live in the shit pile this country would become.

Than you can all sit together, eat som tam, drink lao kao and be proud of having reversed time, having turned this country into a banana republic ones again.

Actually it started with Abhisit, who knew very well what would be the outcome of a harsh crackdown, yet insanly and irresponsibly proceeded with it.

Of course, blaming everything on Thaksin is the convinient excuse that relieves one of using the grey matter... as to the real cause of the problem.

There is some relief knowing that one day Abhisit will pay for his crimes behind bars.

Harsh crackdown , it could of been alot worse ! What is / was he supposed to do sit there and watch Bangkok be held hostage by these thugs ? Let them continuously attack the army with bricks, sticks , petrolbombs , and believe it or not GUNS ? Was he supposed to just sit there and let this happen?

Of course not. Abhisit should have worked harder to negotiate. Instead he took the lazy and stupid way out, by bringing in the troops. Actually he knew very well what would happen if he did that - and, he most certainally got it. Abhisit belongs behind bars.

I see that there are still red shirts in here who even now defend their actions. The army was extremely careful and succeeded in their task with minimum casualties. You Muppets simply do not want to accept that you have been supporting Terrorists but watch out, with all that money confiscated you may not get paid.

With the curfew in place I hope the army now has the order to shoot to kill and I wish them good hunting. Those cockroaches deserve to die and their stinking bodes should be thrown onto a rubbish dump.

They set a building on fire with over 100 people in it ...... would love to see them hanged in public

well today has been a rough day for me and the family..... i lost one of my buisness today,,, hundreds of man hours of work, blood sweat and tears..... as did our uncle, scala, lido, and questionable at this time marina the perps from scala have been caught and will be dealt with....To those that dare make excuses for this nonsenes act of blatent terrorism by the taksin army, i would be more than happy to meet you in person anywhere any time for a face to face discussion...You are disgusting examples of human beings..

At this point in time thailand has its own osama bin laden

That's sad...

What was your business?

(if I may ask)

Yep, Takki bin Thaksin and I sincerely hope the army will not take any prisoners tonight but shoots to kill and the bodies should be publicly displayed in Bangkok for one day to warn off any other Thaksinistas

Dear Thaksin,

There is no pit in hel_l low enough for you. Your role in the suffering of Thailand will be a permanent stain on Thai history. A human travesty.

Let the law of Karma do its job!

naa - the military and their guns will do a much better job and its quicker - with the curfew in place their orders will be to shoot to kill and I wish them great success

Good hunting of those rats and take care boys

And how much money do the rich Chinese Thai have here in Bangkok?

If they say they have 30 billion dollars, they likely have 100 billion dollars.

The other rich Chinese Thai families have huge money off shore as well.

Just look at the Thai Baht at 32 for the US dollar.

How on earth is that possible unless huge money from these same rich families is supporting it with huge buying of the baht.

Imagine the foreign currency in any nation after this event. They would all be in free fall. But here in the land of Chinese Thai money, the baht is still strong.

Bangkok is closed down and the baht is still strong.

But this too could end soon.

The Chinese Thai business man are ready to run from Thailand now. if they should start to leave in mass, the Thai meltdown will accelerate and the baht could see 100 or more for the us dollar.

The Thai wreck is was so so predictable and preventable.

Of course when you treat people like 2nd class citizens and kill them without a trial, you have become a rogue nation, as Miss Sarah says.

I fear for my family and you should fear for yours.

This is the start up of a revolution and not the end of a small movement.

More rubbish

and now your quoting Sarah Palin

Must be a member of the "mentally challenged of the world unite " club

The Thai wreck is was so so predictable and preventable.

Of course when you treat people like 2nd class citizens and kill them without a trial, you have become a rogue nation, as Miss Sarah says.

I fear for my family and you should fear for yours.

This is the start up of a revolution and not the end of a small movement.

Oh you must be talking about Thaksin and the few thousand people he had killed without a trial ?

I'm pretty sure the government must have expected that fringe groups, consisting of the Ronin and black shirts and the accumulation of other criminals would appear and start the looting and burning. That's why the curfew, for the army to complete there job. I hope the order is shoot to kill and that they will use somewhat more efficient weapons.

Also, up country the army must stop any further action by those terrorists. The body count does not have to concern the government anymore now since the reds have shown their real face to the world and news reflect this too.

Good luck to the soldiers tonight and good hunting those rats

i heard from my girlfriend, that the chaos has now spread to Chaeng Wattana, smoke appearing there too. Central Chaeng Wattana closed.

she said she heard that the the leaders have told the red shirts to burn anything they can: shopping centers, government buildings, offices etc.

aehhh, and this is all for democracy? what these idiots dont realise is that it is the people of Bangkok, mainly, who pay taxes to look after the north. or whehre do they think the money comes from? thaksin's pockets??

Guess that once the curfew starts, army will have shoot to kill orders and heavier weapons as well to finish them off - yes, execute them that is what I mean - in case some reds here get upset - they deserve to die

Much of this could have been avoided if there had been a designated protest site - a large field with basic facilities outside downtown Bangkok. That's what the Cambodians just arranged - for future protests in their country. Granted, it's easier said than done, but if the initial protesters had been funneled to a large field somewhere, then things would not have gotten so far out of hand.

Plus, recent reports of freezing accounts of many big businesses and big shot Thais associated with Thaksin and the Reds is BIG NEWS. You can bet there are a lot of big shots close to the Shinawats, who are cussing and shouting and banging furniture against walls.

Actually the accounts were blocked to check the ongoing transfers.

Where is the money coming from, how much is taken out in cash.

Guess why?

Taksins wife took out 600 and 800 Million baht then she left thailand. Legally ur only allowed to take 50,00 baht out of the country.

Wonder what she did with the rest? I don't know any money changers that could change that amount of baht into any currency>>>

Not true. It was Potjamarn's aids and Potjamarn's aids took money from Potjamarn's aid's accounts in cash ostensibly to buy amulets and lottery tickets. It was so much cash they needed a van. Potjamarn is famous for having extremely wealthy servants and aids in her employ. potjamarn doesn't need money to take overseas, she has big money in offshore accounts e.g. Ample Rich etc. This money is needed in country to fund the coup they are attempting

correction "were attempting"

Din Daeng Red-shirts to Act on Their Own

UPDATE : 19 May 2010

Red-shirt protesters in Din Daeng area, who were not happy with the key leaders' decision to call off the red-shirt rally, have declared themselves independent from the main red-shirt movement.

They say they'll now act on their own and have threatened to hunt down members of the press.

http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/tan/ViewData...?DataID=1029522

Any evolving splinter groups have to be considered terrorists and the army should get a shoot to kill order and use heavier weapons to execute them quickly now!

EXECUTE THE ORDERS, not execute the splinter group members....

Unless they attack when faced with authorities trying to stop them.

They attack, and it's their look out to survive the counter attack.

Let's pray that most can think this through and call it a day.

did you say "think this through" ???

rest asured that among those are ronin's and all the criminals that joined the rally as opportunists - most will know that they will be identified and can expect very long jail sentences or an injection since they all have priors - mug shots - fingerprints on record - they will not give up and therefor they need to be executed and quickly so because they will cause extraordinary damage to the city

Curfew has been announced so the army can finish what they started

Din Daeng Red-shirts to Act on Their Own

UPDATE : 19 May 2010

Red-shirt protesters in Din Daeng area, who were not happy with the key leaders' decision to call off the red-shirt rally, have declared themselves independent from the main red-shirt movement.

They say they'll now act on their own and have threatened to hunt down members of the press.

http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/tan/ViewData...?DataID=1029522

Any evolving splinter groups have to be considered terrorists and the army should get a shoot to kill order and use heavier weapons to execute them quickly now!