15Peter20

Snap elections

a coup w/o the intervention of the police

an announcement from on high that a time for squabbling to end has come and a unity government.

not to mention any of the minor variations

All of your outcomes involve the current government giving up power. Is that a mistake?

What about 'Demos weaken in strength, police prevent further encroachment on ministries (like they did a couple of months ago at a yellow demo), government continues in power until next elections'?

Not a likely option at all, but it could happen. The flaw there is that it is not only the Dems that are out there.

I won't be willing to even make a friendly wager with a friend until I see which way Newin jumps. Currently my odds are on a snap election announced very soon. I predict a significant shift in the balance of power in parliament, no Shinawatra in the PM slot, and whoever survives having a weak coalition government. (Which while building the checks and balances is the only real option for democracy here at this time)

So it'll be back to the good old days of weak coalitions rendering themselves ineffective through infighting. Ah, I remember them well. Hardly progress, but possible I guess. By the way, in my previous post I said 'Demos' (as in 'demonstrations', not 'Dems').

I still don't get what he is rallying for now. Can anybody clearly explain? Just saying they want to 'root out the Shinawatr clan' is not a meaningful platform upon which to campaign to bring down a government. I think a few more details might be in order.

 
He means that just dissolving the house and calling another election would do nothing as the Shinawatrs are too entwined and would simply reform. He wants a solution where they can be removed from politics (including the cronies) and then a return to "true" democracy.
 
He may be right on the first count - most think that some semblance of PTP would just get straight back in - and with Thaksin's pull on the party, would still be in control. On the other hand, he also knows that even if PTP fractured (as I personally think it would), that Dems or any party he starts, are unlikely to get into power either.
 
So, he is between a  rock and a hard place - only answer he has is an appointed administration (aka non-elected) government (perhaps cross-party - perhaps non-partisan - perhaps all his own people) to preside over the clean up of politics, government and civil service to remove the cronies/corruption and make a fairer playing field, before stepping down for free elections.
 
At least that's the gist of it as far as I can understand.

Thanks for the reply. You've probably got a better understanding of this than I. But you're saying that Suthep is rallying because he 'wants a solution...'. Usually when people want others to believe in them, its because they think they've GOT a solution. He doesn't have a clearly defined solution (witness all the 'perhaps's in your explanation), so how can he expect a loyal base? I think he's scared to reiterate a non-elected leadership solution (if that's what he wants), as he knows it is so abhorrent to most Thais.

Surely people will only countenance change if they can see what the alternative will be. I think these demos are gonna fizzle out unless more money is pumped into them.

Could Suthep's strategy be to provoke the police to retaliate against the protestors so the military could save the day with a coup as in the past?

That is one of a minimum of 4 possible outcomes.

Just so I don't have to bother doing any thinking, could you post the other 3 possible outcomes? Thanks.

Snap elections

a coup w/o the intervention of the police

an announcement from on high that a time for squabbling to end has come and a unity government.

not to mention any of the minor variations

All of your outcomes involve the current government giving up power. Is that a mistake?

What about 'Demos weaken in strength, police prevent further encroachment on ministries (like they did a couple of months ago at a yellow demo), government continues in power until next elections'?

Could Suthep's strategy be to provoke the police to retaliate against the protestors so the military could save the day with a coup as in the past?

That is one of a minimum of 4 possible outcomes.

Just so I don't have to bother doing any thinking, could you post the other 3 possible outcomes? Thanks.

They, the members of the P.T.P. and their coalition partners all drank from the poisoned chalice that Thaksin offered them,

They drank deeply from the poisoned chalice either from the desire for ministerial positions or financial rewards, nothing more nothing less.

Now as the effects of that heady draugh they drank begin to take effect Chuturon among others is trying to create a cosmetic antidote to the contents of that chalice.

Now there is only one antidote, that is the exorcism politically of the wicked wizard who handed these fools the poisoned chalice from which they drank.

Perhaps slowly but surely cracks are starting to appear within the ranks as they come to see the true cost of their drinking habit and the accompanying resultant hangover to it as well..

Woe unto those who followeth strong political drink!!

Err...so who's Gandalf?

Its already been confirmed by the hospital director that power to the main hospital was not cut - a forensic lab had its power cut and is running on generators - but not the main hospital. They also have generators ready. A policeman was slightly hurt, cut forehead; looks like he cut his head on the razor wire while trying to deflect the cutting of the cables - not details on that yet other than pictures of his cut eyebrow.

He cut himself on their own razor wire? So not at all the demonstrators fault, right?

Not sure how accurate that is yet - and I guess it could be said that he wouldn't have if the demonstrators hadn't been there. I am sure at the end of the day there will be 3 dozen explanations of what happened to him (but it certainly looks like a wire cut - so could be some credence in that).

And the military grade razor wire they use is very very nasty and made to cause terrible wounds)

(Different than the civilian razor wire which hurts but doesn't cause nasty wounds......)

Let me guess....the people-loving Dems used the civilian-friendly razor wire 3 years ago, correct?

Pictures of demonstrators actually cutting power lines to the Police HQ, and of a policeman injured during the process, can be found on Richard Barrow's twitter page.

https://twitter.com/richardbarrow

Suthep; the sooner he goes missing the better for the country

Even Abhisit and the Dems are trying to further distance themselves from Suthep now, reminding everyone of his split with the party. Politically it is very savvy to steer clear of Suthep right now.

That's another good move by the Dems (following their recent increased efforts at presenting alternative policies in the press). If they're not careful they might start becoming electable again.

What a disgrace this government it. A total disgrace. Words escape me.

How about : "what a disgrace" ?

I'd have put an 'outraged' or two in there as well.

Now's the time to get out and see the sites or do that bit of shopping you've been meaning to do for ages.

This promises to be a great day for being able to get around Bangkok, as I have it on good authority from some of TV's finest that anti-government demonstrations actually improve the flow of traffic around town!

It should never have got to this stage. The ruling itself should have been delayed until it was established whether or not it would be legally appropriate.

can't...can't we just all get along?

Uh oh....maybe PTP haven't kept them sweet enough.

Military coup - too obvious. Judicial coup - too divisive. Welcome to 'Subverting Democracy Pt III - Rule By Constitution Court'. 555.

Pol.Gen. Pracha also addressed the rumour that three policemen had died on duty as they kept watch on the protesters, admitting that three police officers had indeed passed away during their posts, but the cause of deaths were personal illness and unrelated to the protests.

That is a very alarming statistic! What did they die of if it were 'personal illness', were they working together, from the same unit, is it contagious etc etc.

As to the OP if that is not a face slap in public to Chalerm then I don't know what is. Go home Chalerm, you have been used, abused and are now surplus to requirements....get used to it.

Maybe it's a pre-curser to unleashing biological agents to the protest sites. Some mysterious fatal illness that supposedly started with 3 police officers and spread to the crowd.

While we're making up ridiculous bullshit, maybe it was yellow thugs that killed them but in an effort to prevent tensions rising further the government is downplaying it. Anyone got any more?

8) After the Parliament passed the bill in the third reading and the prime minister submitted the bill for the royal command, the next step will depend as to whether the King will approve the bill or wait until 90 days without sending the bill back to the Parliament. But the court violated the King's power by accepting the petitions against the bill for reviewing without basing its decision on any provision of the charter.

This is my favourite. As far as i understand it The PM has 20 days to submit the bill for Royal command. Even though the PM and government knew that a complaint had been passed to the CC she went ahead the next day and sent it off to the King.

But some excellent info here:

http://asiancorrespondent.com/113913/yingluck-and-the-submitting-of-the-charter-amendment-to-the-king/

So where - in that precise of yours - was any protocol broken?

Okay, you are saying she ignored a complaint which may or may not have been lodged in an appropriate manner at an appropriate time, but I gather she didn't break any rules. Your criticism seems based on the fact that she ignored a complaint which itself may have been made outside the very set of procedural steps that she is said to have followed, is that right?

Err....is this still all about Thaksin?

Oh well, looks like I may have done the wrong thing but we'll see. Didn't have my insurance details with me and couldn't get them as I am far from home.

One of the hotel staff came with me to help out. First we went to Ford where - as guzzi850m2 said - they wouldn't even look at it, but we got them to suggest places where could go. There is an official Ford body workshop apparently in Chonburi but that's an hour away and we didn't know if they'd need to keep the car or not. We ended up going to a place in north Pattaya - a repair shop that does work for insurance companies. They said they'd have it looking as new in 2 days for 2500Bt. I just thought sod it, and agreed, as I don't need the hassle of further paperwork or police or all that stuff. I'm on holiday. Next time I'll make sure I've got my insurance details every time I go away like this.

Frankly, I'll just be happy if the repair shop doesn't screw it up worse than it is now. The hotel is paying for the taxi rides to and from the repair shop. We'll see how things pan out.

Well, I was just about to leave my room to take the car to Ford when two of their employees came knocking. They've just brought up plates of fruit, sandwiches, pastry and a bottle of wine as a 'sorry'. Of course its a nice gesture but now I'm in one of those positions I hate where you feel like a c$^t for doing what you think is right.

I'm still going down to Ford now. Haven't got the police involved - it was Amari staff who notified me of what happened in the first place, so they appear honest and sincere. As I say it isn't a major dent, but its pretty much a new car and still my pride and joy - first new car I ever bought myself - and I just want it to be as new.

Thanks for the advice so far.

Hi All

I'm staying at one of the Amari hotels in Pattaya and a few hours ago one of their employees hit my parked car - which was inside their own car park) with one of their 'buggy' type vehicles they use for ferrying guests around.

There is a dent that straddles two sections of body work (panels?), but no paint has been scratched off (apparently the big rubber tyre of the buggy is what made contact). I'm going to go to Ford Pattaya (it's a Focus) today and see what they can do about it. It's not a massive dent, but 2 panels are now noticeably out of line.

The admin person at Amari is expecting my insurance to pay for fixing it. Is this right? Shouldn't I eventually send a bill to Amari? Thanks for any advice on what the correct procedure is in this kind of matter - I've never had to deal with this kind of thing before.

15P

Occasionally now his critics will raise the drugs war as a means of attacking Thaksin secure in the knowledge there will never be an investigation in to it.The vast majority of his critics were silent when the crimes were being carried out.

No one is too keen on becoming another victim.

I rarely see Jayboy's posts (the ignore option is excellent) but he constantly uses the "the war on drugs was widely popular" argument for human rights abuses. Well, at the time of the removal of Thaksin from his extra constitutional position as on again off again PM ... nobody said or did anything either, That coup was widely popular" Months and months later when the offers of cash started flowing it became unpopular in the NE.

Maybe you'd like to reassess your angle on the ignore button. Had you known what the rest of Jayboy's post said I'm fairly sure you wouldn't have embarrassed yourself this way.