honzad

Why the Airport?

Because it has the precedent of closing down the country and causing a past government to fall.

As much as I am against closing down anything, it would be good end-game ploy for Suthep to join with the farmers in declaring:-

"If the rice money is not paid in full by 28th February the protesters, and farmers, will descend on Suvarabhuni and Don Mueang airports with the intention of closing the airports until Yingluk resigns"

That should bring the army out and we will see a conclusion to the current round of events.

So you really think a military coup is the best solution? While certainly more honest than a judicial coup - at least you're not pretending to respect democracy while <deleted> it over - it's certainly not been a success in the past. I bet you wouldn't go wishing for a coup in your own country.

" The Post quoted Supon, a former policeman as saying "The majority of redshirts really like the idea of a separate state. If they stage a coup, we can live without Bangkok."

Yeah right. Then you will end up like other land locked metropolis' such as Loas, Afghanistan, South Sudan etc etc

Switzerland, Austria...

A massive sample that, 1,016 out how many elegible people?

Maths not your strong point it seems? It's more than adequate as a statistical sample, providing it was weighted correctly geographically and demographically. (Sorry to use long words.)

get the Shinawatra clan out!!!! thats whant the people, want even the majority of the red shirts want this also.

Looks like their best chance is the February 2 elections then, no?

If the majority wants this, why don't the Democrats participate?

Try to keep up, is your red talking points sheet not up to date? . . . the anti-Govt protestors want "reform" BEFORE "elections" . . . got it? A non-Politician (i.e. impartial) PM, etc etc. Simple.

Also, the Govt are currently scrambling to retain their power base because rice payments haven't been made on time and this will affect the number of votes they get, for them, the sooner elections happen, the better, cos the longer this drags on, the more support they lose.

A non-politician Prime Minister? What on earth is that? (Oh, yes - a dictator.)

The Nation seems to be much more objective this time around than the Post. So many of the protesters hold good jobs at Western companies - wonder what would happen if they all did pull out?

The EC have suggested that the election be postponed and pointed out how that can be done.

Abhisit is agreeing with them, what is so wrong with that ?

The reason for postponement, as everyone should know by now, is to put reforms in place before a new Govt takes office.

If this is done it will mean that the much needed reforms can be done in a unilateral manner and are set in place before an election and therefor not left up to the whim of the next Govt.

Who could and possibly would say "we have a majority we will do it our way" something that would only lead to more trouble.

What reforms? We hear this again and again but no substance. Here are Suthep's suggestions:

1. Nobody called Shinawatra allowed to stay in Thailand.

2. Nobody allowed to vote unless they understand that Suthep is right.

3. Suthep chosen as new president by decree.

4. Errr - that's it...

The New York Times is a ultra left wing rag, which preaches socialism.

Of course it is. Bless.

Interfering old goats go and do something constructive help the poor in Thailand instead of meddling in Thai politics they can spend their money on what they want at least it won’t be spent on HS2 crap like the UK’s dreamers.

Good attempt to introduce a totally unrelated subject. 4/5.

So what happens when they kick them out. Then get voted back in? I just don't get it.

The idea is to kick them out and then change the whole process to make the system of politics more democratic and uncorruptable so the likes of Thaksin can not interfere with politics. To eradicate vote buying and populist policies, and install more rigorous checks and balances.

Then whoever gets voted in, it will be the democratic way.... They are trying to repair the laughable system of politics basically.

Don't be so sure about PTP getting back in that easily. With no vote buying or populist policies.

More democratic - you're having a laugh.

Suthep should be in police custody already! How can a law breaker judge a government?

How can a convicted criminal run a country?

This is the wish of the majority of the Thai people, because this government has been elected free and regular.

Let's make sure we're clear here. A majority did not vote for PTP. They are governing via a coalition government due to this. A majority is defined as more than 50%.

They govern in the same way as almost every multi-party democracy using a parliamentary system in the world - the party with the most votes or seats gets the chance to form a coalition. You may not like it, but that's how it works.

Suthep should be in police custody already! How can a law breaker judge a government?

How can a convicted criminal run a country?

This is the wish of the majority of the Thai people, because this government has been elected free and regular.

Let's make sure we're clear here. A majority did not vote for PTP. They are governing via a coalition government due to this. A majority is defined as more than 50%.

As is the case in every multi-party parliamentary democracy in the world.

"After I take over there will be no elections because I can't actually think of any policies which would stop me losing again...and again..."

Bangkok could be perfect for cycling as it is so flat. It takes the political will to enforce separation between traffic and bikes though, and unfortunately here the car is king. I cycle here regularly though - fantastic way to cut through the jams.

High time the Govt actually utilised the canal route for serious, modern transportation. In its present form it's both dangerous and a health hazard.

You are joking? They would just close it down. It may be dirty but it's very useful.

Sondhi is an idiot but he won't go to prison because he is well connected. Da Torpedo has no powerful friends so she will stay there. Meanwhile Amnesty refuse to address the obvious problem because they are sucking up to the right people.

spending the rest of his time in Bangkok running his own business?

Long over due for a clean out of these undesirables and the individuals that assist there business endeavors in Bangkok.

A new broom sweeps clean even from Dubai.

Because of his skincolour of because you presume he is doing illegal or immoral business?

Racists on the Thai Visa page? Who would have thought it.

The article in the NYT was obviously very odd - not up to their usual standards, which are pretty high and they are usually very quick to address mistakes and publish them.

What worries me though is the extreme vitriol poured out on these pages. I assume most of the posters are Farang living in Thailand because they choose to. (If you don't like it here there are a couple of hundred other countries around the world that you could try and move to - including your own.)

Why then do you all get so wound up about the current political tension in the country? Your views are irrelevant as you can't vote or be otherwise involved, and your rhetoric is offensive.

Every time I look at the comments on these pages all I see is racist slurs against the Thai people, abuse against their chosen political representatives, and a level of cynicism which is corrosive in it's bitterness.

I see the problems the Thai people have to face, but they are light compared to the sad misery of Farang living in Thailand but hating it.

Obtaining a visa for Myanmar is no easy feat.

Anyone got a good link how to do this from BKK?

Errr - go to the Myanmar Embassy on Sathorn Road and apply? They offer same day service. Easier than many others.

It's amazing how people on this page will do anything to avoid the obvious answer, which the court found. He was killed with an army bullet, fired from the area where the army were using live rounds and as a result killed many other people. Of course it is possible that a Red Shirt had stolen the munitions, hidden amongst the soldiers and then killed him. Possible but also ridiculous.

The army shot the guy, as they shot many other people that day. If you want you can argue that they were justified in doing so - but you can't pretend it didn't happen. I am not supporting the Red Shirts and especially not Thaksin. The former are naive and easily manipulated, the latter a rather shady character - but deal with the facts. The journalist was shot by the army because he was doing what he felt was his job - to be reporting from the heart of the action.