jonclark

I thought gatherings of more than 5 people are banned anyway, aren't they?

Double standards eek laewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

They are supposed to be, but as with the "pink shirts" that law does not apply if you support the government. This was trap waiting for Abhisit to fall into, which he duly did. One more chip out of the government's credibility. The red shirts' propaganda machine will get maximum mileage out of it. I wonder how many other laws do not apply if you support the government?

The reds claiming 'double standards' because the 'pinks' weren't dispersed is utter nonsense. The reds are and have been breaking the law for weeks now. If they are so concerned about the law, then they should take the moral high ground and disperse FIRST as they gathered FIRST. And anyway as far as I know the 'Pinks' disperse peacefully every night without police or military assistance. When the reds are critical of others, they are being completely hypocritical and are really providing a very succinct abstract as to how they are breaking the law, and what they expect to happen if you break the law. Unless of course your red.

Although during a drought water shouldn't be wasted, the actual amount thrown during songkran, is completely insignificant when you consider how much water is used daily for agriculture and manufacturing purposes. It's something like 300 liters for every pair of jeans made and 20 liters to make a plastic bottle that holds 1 liter of Coke. I can't remember the exact figures but for 1 kg of rice produced something like 200 liters of water must be used for the irrigation of that rice.

The only thing for sure is that the army won't be out gunned next time on its home turf. Despite what Anupong says about no force being used.

i've just finished watching the video titled "Thai Army Opens Fire On Protesters, Protesters Hurl Grenades," and i have to say that the title is a little misleading. Nowhere in the video can you see the armying OPENING fire, you see and heard them respond, by firing into the air, which as the commentator says 'if they ae firinging into the crowd there would be alot more dead people hear'. This vidoe speaks volumes about the restraint of the army and how they tried to play by the rules. The actions of the reds - well watch the video, listen to the commentary and work out for yourself if the army really does open fire on the protesters.

I find it amazing that given the total amount of confusion that occured last night that we have a direct quote from a tourist involved, but no other information. What did the soliders do to make him say what he supposedly said. Was it actuallya solider or a fake red soider. Can't access the web site prachatai, so some more info would be useful. Often on this forum we heard of tourists in places like puket getting into scrapes with tuk tuk guys - personally i think there is more to this than just a simple <deleted>*k you. Also worth noting no interviews with this tourist after being shot , surely pictures of a shot tourist would make great red propaganda, just can't remember seeing any.

yestarday at 21:10 "Prachatai reporter from Kok Wua intersection reported that two foreign tourists were injured by soldiers. One was shot at the chest after having shouted 'fuc_k You!' to the soldiers. They have been sent to hospital." http://www.prachatai.org/english/node/1726

Worthy of a Darwin Awards Entry for sure.

having seen the video posted above. Which is inconclusive as to who fired first. Maybe next time the army should be allowed to use sharpen bamboo sticks rather than batons, and grenades rather than shield and rubber bullets. If i had been a solider on the front lines their i would have been scared witless and battered the first thing that moved wearing red purely for self preservation, and i'm sure 90% of the posters on this forum would do the same thing if they were in the front line and not sat at home with a beer in an aircon room safe on a comfy armchair, being airchair warriors. My deep gratitude to the bravery and courage of the soliders and my condolences to all the families who will not longer have the chance to hold their loved ones again. The breaking of the red budha dies indeed seem ominous

If this had happened in the US with guns, grenades and gas cannisters for bombs being used against the US police, anyone like to place bets as to the response of the US police - SWAT and lots of guns with live ammunition being used.

As does Jatuporn et al , and 'new thai state creationist Veera, in fact all of them do.slinging mud, and hurling insults and not accepting responsibility it what caused tonights events, all sides are to blame in equal measure. I keep thinking though were the lives of all of those affected tonight worth trying to force through house dissolution in 15 days rather than the nine months Abhisit offered. I'm sure the families of those that died would rather have their loved ones back and wait nine months than live forever without them and have a house dissolution in 15 days. Such a sad day for the land of smiles.

Without any doubt, Abhisit's time to go has come.

ok i'll bite

why is that then?

her looks stronger than ever to me

You don't look strong when you kill your own people just to stay in power. It could all have been avoided by calling new elections. If he is indeed backed by the majority of Thais as he claims, he should have no problem winning an election and proving his mandate.

Abhisit now has the blood of Thais on his hands, and the Thai people will not forgive him.

Sad nightfor the country, mothers will wake to find their sons dead, wifes' missing husbands, sons with no fathers and all because Jatuporn and the reds couldn't wait nine months. Thefamilys of this night y will be waiting the rest of their lives.

Exactly - Thai not hurting Thais is complete and utter bol**cks - Thais love a good ruck providing they are they outnumber their opponant by 10 to 1. Abhisit is doing a great job, the military is bricking itself cause a coup would bring ALL Thais out into the street, so they can't play that card, leaving them devoid of ideas. This Thai not hurting Thai is media spin. Get in there kick them back to Nako n nowhere and have a good songkran.

Give him a gun and tell him to take the first shot

Nobody needs to shoot anybody. There are other methods of dispersing and controlling these people. This whole notion of Thais not hurting Thais is twaddle and a little childish. The country seriously needs to move forward and if this is not dealt with it'll be the same thing over and over again by any group not happy with the system.

I agree that the countries poor need a voice, but without wanting to sound like an obnoxious prick, what have they got to say.

'We are poor please help us'.

'Stop the corruption'.

'Give us a share of the countries resources.'

All fair points, but when you look at their leaders it reminds me of the old fable about the scorpion which asked the frog to take it over a river

I fear the poor will remain poor, the establishment will remain established and the scorpions will sting the frog.

I agree that the countries poor need a voice, but without wanting to sound like an obnoxious prick, what have they got to say.

'We are poor please help us'.

'Stop the corruption'.

'Give us a share of the countries resources.'

All fair points, but when you look at their leaders it reminds me of the old fable about the scorpion which asked the frog to take it over a river

I fear the poor will remain poor, the establishment will remain established and the scorpions will sting the frog.

Can someone who is familiar with 'red politics' etc. Please answer me this questions. What policies do the 'reds' in whatever reincarnation they be, have to bridge the political divide which has trapped this country. Winning an election will not solve the problem. So Reds - What are your policies? How will you appease the democrate supporters when you come to power?

Since you don't know I know your reference, and that I was going beyond it by dealing with real people in real places pursuing real things like money and greed, take a good look at this Goldfinger.

Why's your finger gold. Where have you been hiding it???

That's an excellent link to consider lannarebirth, thanks.

Gazprom, Thaksin, Cambodia, Dubai, Bahrain etc etc......oh, excuse me, just connecting some dots.

Real James Bond stuff... Does Taksin have a white cat by any chance??

You have quite the imagination . I'd suggest you not let it run too much farther however.

Lemme know what Wiki might have to say about Thaksin and cats. I know Deng Xiao Peng famously said of his communist critics of market economics, "It doesn't matter if the cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice."

So as you're so curious, let us know if Thaksin has a cat and what philosophical statements Thaksin might have to say about cats and Thai sociopolitics....on second thought..........stop trying to waste my time.

What the heck as catching mice, communist critics and sociopolitics got to do with anything. The white cat was reference to James Bonds evil arch enemy SPECTRE who were always trying for world domination through various scheme and plots.

That's an excellent link to consider lannarebirth, thanks.

Gazprom, Thaksin, Cambodia, Dubai, Bahrain etc etc......oh, excuse me, just connecting some dots.

Real James Bond stuff... Does Taksin have a white cat by any chance??

[

The stuff that ends up in one's Inbox:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/khmerintelligence/message/722

I have no idea if these are credible assertions, but it's out there.

Maybe i should changes jobs and become a psyschic (if only i coud spell it)

According to the Nation, there is also the small matter of some debts to Gazprom for him to settle...

From Russia with love to a financial debacle

By Thanong Khanthong

The Nation

Published on January 15, 2010

It now emerges that Thaksin indeed is facing financial difficulties. He has borrowed money from Gazprombank, a subsidiary of Russian energy giant Gazprom, and is now having a tough time servicing the debt.

The amount of the loan he took from Gazprombank is not known, but it could be to the tune of US$1.5 billion.

Thaksin used this money to invest in Dubai. As we all know, Dubai is facing a financial meltdown. Dubai World, the state-owned corporation, is seeking a delay of payment in its debt, which amounts to $59 billion. Thaksin is facing huge losses after his foray into the Dubai market.

The Russian state owns about 50 per cent of Gazprom, a global energy company that focuses on geological exploration, production, transportation, storage, processing and marketing of gas and other hydrocarbons, as well as electric power and heat energy production and distribution. Gazprom is Russia's equivalent of Thailand's PTT Plc, but bigger.

Yes this all crossed my mind earlier.

Gone to pay some debts and some lip service too?

He never said NEW investments in Thailand, it could just be

debt servicing to some big boys who don't mess around.

It strikes me that if you join all the dots with Taksin, Gazprom and Cambodia, You end up with a simple conclusion - Taksin gets cozy with Gazprom (finacially - 1.5 billion dollar loan / backhander) on the proviso that on his return he can influence government officials - both here and in Cambodia - that will allow Gazprom to exploit the gas / oil reserves in the Gulf of Thailand.

And that may explain why the Government backed out of the MoU with Cambodia, they knew more than we do, thus scuppering Taksin plans and leading to him to pay back debts, with money currently frozen...the result Reds on the street in a final desperate act.

Obviously this is pure speculation.

But if true taksin may well be on a very sticky wicket.

They all make very good points. If the reds really want to see and and to the stalemate then they must be willing to compromise. Ultimatums will get them nowhere.

All, no almost all. The yellow shirts should keep their mouth shut and crawl back into their pig stalls.

They have no right to speak at all after the damage they have done to this country.

For all the other points I agree with the talks, and charter amendments, however if the government now makes charter amendments and the newly elected government does not agree with them, they will change it again, and if that would be a red shirt backed party we have the yellow shirts protesting again.

My opinion, no charter amendments yet, first the elections, and then the amendments by the majority 'chosen by the people' and not backed by any protest group / army or any other group.

As this is such a contentious issue, then in order for fair play and to allow all people to vote a) for their party or for the party with charter amendments they agree with. Both the democrates and Phue Thai and all other parties need to outline what their charter amendments will be prior to an election, as well as other policy statements (on education, health, the economy etc.) to allow people to vote for which party is best for the country. Rather than this red / yellow boll**ks that is currently going on.

Dissolving the house now allows NO party time to prepare these important facts and to disseminate these facts to the voting public.

Imagine voting for Phue Thai and then finding out they implement charter amendments which KEEP Taksin in prision - The voting public woudl be so pi**ed off.

Does anyone know 'where' in Bangkok the protests are planned for. In this current round of demonstrations the public have normally been given a heads up to either join in or avoid the area. Anyone know where the rallies will be. Having stayed at home last weekend i'm off out this weekend and want to avoid the trouble spots.

Surely though it is the job of the Royal Thai Police to defend parliment in the first instance not the military. Fairly suire in most countries the police would beef up their presence to ensure security, or a joint police / milatry operation with the police as the public face and the military waiting in the wings to help if needed.

Next thing you know the women will be donating their used sanitary towels

"Next to Akarapol, a 40-year-old Bangkok resident known as Boy had drawn a picture of a gun and two hands fouled with drops of blood.

The gun, drawn in blood, means violence and the two hands are those of the government that had hurt people,he said."

I take it that the picture represents Taksin war on drugs and the innocent which lost their lives - Very inspirational. Hope many of the reds look and learn from it.

All this babbling about the same old topics of who is right and wrong. Both are right and both are wrong. No such thing as black and white in politics.

The point here is that next saturday we can expect more of the same!! This is going to inconvienience a lot of people who have lives to live and need to get out and about. I think if this happens then you can expect far worse gridlock next saturday and tempers getting frayed. It wouldn't surprise me to see a counter demonstration held at the same time.

Hopefully this announcement is just a barganing ploy by Jatuporn, as he sees Abhisit isn't budging on his precondition for talks. Hopefully it will amount to nothing and they will all sit down and discuss the future

Just to add my two cents worth to the support discussion. I was out on Suk 71 at about 4:30 ish. The reds seemed to be fairly well received in the area and all good natured. Lot's of local s sat around waving anything red in the air and cheering on the parade. However many of the motorcycles were driving down, suk 71, and then turning around and doing the whole circuit again. Not the cars only the motorcycles.

Overall congrats to the reds. Speaking to the locals they weren't really massive supports of the reds but were just there to see what was going on, and when someone waved or honked at them they cheered back. Overall whilst many people may disagree with the politics, i have to say the spirit of the carnival showed the best of Thai people, lots of smiling faces and lots of sanook .

Obviously traffic for the rest was a f**king disaster, but the reds and onlookers had a great time on suk 71. Note to Japutporn. Next time have your parade during Songkran and load up with water it will be mental!!and i'll join in.