Insight

Amazing level of contempt for the voting public on display here. Was she given this line by somebody else, or did she come up with it all by herself?

Am not holding much hope, but there's an interesting article in the Bangkok Post today indicating that some of her red shirt supporters may be beginning to see the light.

It's completely off-topic, but I'd love to (finally) see some photos of these "armed PAD" lot.

There are pictures of armed red shirts aplenty.

I posted several pics and reports on a thread over a year ago...

Did any of them show as purported in this thread.... machine guns?

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No, don't think I found any pics of anything more than handguns... but they had at least one (found in the car of one of the leader's bodyguards): http://www.nationmul...on_30090406.php

To my mind it's inconceivable that they didn't have more of such weaponry. After all they stated they were willing to defend any crackdown using as much violence as necessary, using human shields as protection. I don't know what would've happened if the army had moved in, but it surely would've been akin to the UDD protests, if not worse... (given the protesters were tightly packed in the airport, women and families alongside more violent types - unlike, for the most part anyway, the UDD protests where the families sat at the stage and young men fought the military elsewhere). But any military crackdown on the PAD was out of the question anyway, and that's something to be thankful for.

"For the most part" - so the obvious, well known incident was completely isolated?

I had a quick hunt for your post a year ago for the pics featuring the PAD using handguns, but couldn't find anything. Would be nice to see something a little more concrete, beyond opinions of possible outcomes that never were. Even the odd solid reference to what they supposedly stated wouldn't hurt.

It's completely off-topic, but I'd love to (finally) see some photos of these "armed PAD" lot.

There are pictures of armed red shirts aplenty.

Yeah, yeah. Sorry but don't believe any of this sh!t. They're all singing different parts of the same tune.

as the co-owner of an M1 kid

DYAC?

Is it possible the first nine words could be dropped from this headline?

More accurate, and would look very apt next to that photo.

I guess now I had better read the article.

Anyone with an active brain cell has known from day one that the whole PTP agenda has been about getting Big T off on all charges and allowing him to return and take control of the party officially. All of the smoke screens that people throw up about fairness ( no one else is ever tried for corruption why should he be) are just mudding the waters.

I guess I'm wondering about this and my question is: even if true - so what? What's so catastrophic about a popular politician other than he's not your favorite or in your favorite party.

How can anyone point to one politician in Thailand and say that one is more corrupt than others? Reconcilliation, yes....but the reforms needed elsewhere in Thai society are infinitely more important. Thaksin is merely a convenient distraction for what really needs to change.

No need to answer my previous question. It's now ridiculously obvious.

It is a complete travesty for Thailand that the Dems continue with their paranoid and idiotic fantasy that amnesty is solely for Thaksin. The real result of this lunatic and absurd lie is that it completely blocks the reconciliation process for all of Thailand. Pathetic.

The failure and inability of Thai politicians to demonstrate any ability for compromise is appalling. All they accomplish is maintaining the Thai government's international reputation as a third-rate, podunk outfit. Good luck with that.

You didn't arrive in this country around the times of the (major) red shirt protests, by any chance? Circa 2009-2010 ?

If reconciliation isn't about Thaksin, why don't PT take the Dems up on their offer of absolving everybody other than Abhisit, Suthep and Thaksin?

begin removed ...

Anyway, it would still be interesting to see some kind of data that justifies Animatic's sweeping claims about the evils of red shirt villages, not to mention how that might be different in the deep south of Thailand.

The deep South lacks an understanding in things Thai and red-shirt type of democracy. Really shocking, I must admit.

May I join k. Thaksin in hailing signs of reconciliation ? The posts of a few members here seem to accurately indicate the level we've already managed to reach.

I wasn't aware that TV members were part of the reconciliation process, did I miss something?

Neither is anybody who opposes amnesty, it seems.

These mysterious "enemies" who don't like him are infact just normal ordinary working tax-paying people who are completely tired of his relentless Napoleon-complex & the damage it has/is causing to this nation.

Amen. And any attempt to drop the charges against Thaksin will trigger the rise of these people again. The Siam Reap event will look like a picnic in comparison.

It's pretty much a given however that Thaksin and co are aware of this. The real concern now is the lengths they will go to to prevent such an uprising. After what I seen in 2010, I would put absolutely nothing past him.

I decided to spend Songkran in Siem Reap. I made that decision before the red shirt rally was announced.

I wasn't concerned about it, other than the potential impact on roads etc - I doubted that all the Isaan farmers would venture into Pub Street anyway. A couple of people were p!ssed off that they were not allowed to go to Angkor Wat yesterday as it had been 'reserved' for the red shirts.

On Saturday evening 3 of us decided to go to the 'red shirt' rally site. We took the view that, whilst we were not supporters of Thaksin, we were in Siem Reap and had the opportunity to see history happening at first hand.

First, I should comment on what appeared to be first-class organisation on the part of the hosts. When we arrived in Siem Reap on Friday night we saw how the site had been prepared with thousands of (red) seats, a stage, hundreds of stewards/police and a large army presence. I don't think any trouble was expected and security was as much for Thaksin's protection as anything.

We took a tuk-tuk out to the site and had to park about a kilometre away. We entered via an airport-type scanner and went to watch Thaksin - who at this point was singing on stage. I suggest that he does not pursue that as a career !!

The highlight was when he left. I say this because at this point he had whipped up the crowd, if not into a frenzy, at least to an excitable pitch of clapper clapping. It took sometime for the star of the show to exit the stage and make his way by car just past where we were standing. There were a dozen escort vehicles and probably 50 'special' security guys running alongside the car ready to 'take a bullet'.

Pure theatre.

Whilst walking out I passed within inches of, and made eye-contact with, Arisaman. I still can't believe how he evaded police custody...

The hosts were magnificent and the red shirt guests were impeccably behaved ( a little loud in a couple of tourist attractions - but that is the Thai way).

I have absolutely no idea how many people were there. I would estimate 10,000 to 15,000. A friend said 5,000 to 10,000.

Frank and neutral accounts of such events are always highly valued - big thanks.

Laughably miles off the mark.

He is on the lookout for morons, and he's got his work cut out.

I assume from your answers you are admitting that your post was fiction. Stallone will have found his first moron.

Brilliant assumption. He has indeed.

For those who haven't got a colossal chip on their shoulder, my post will remain on the forum.

That accusation as to who a forum user actually is is so far off the mark it's almost hilarious.

As for the credibility of other Thai-based forums, Andrew Drummond has some very good info. Perhaps Amsterdam should have a read of that blog before he goes quoting forum users in his own blog posts.

(Not that deep down he actually gives a toss)

Wow! what very good authority was that?

The answers, Grasshopper, are in the questions you seek....

Have you shared it with the security authorities as well as TV?

I hope we're not referring to the Thai cops here. Moving on...

Is Stallone on standby?

He is on the lookout for morons, and he's got his work cut out.

An official in the Cambodian border town of Poipet said yesterday that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had ordered immigration officials to provide special treatment to red-shirt supporters crossing over from Thailand.

The official, who requested anonymity, added that all immigration officials had been instructed to not search any red-shirt vehicles.

Okay, that's worrying. I have it on a very good authority that many of the weapons used by the red/black side during April/May 2010 originated from Cambodia.

Given the number of "red guards" there, along with the low turnout, could this rally simply be a guise for an arms run? Stocking up ready for when the "political situation returns to normal"?

The date July has been mentioned over in the other English-language daily.

Hold fast, Thailand. Again.

is that good authority that can be substantiated or are you "just saying..."

Ah, you got me. I'm "just saying"

Let's see what happens before this year is out.

An official in the Cambodian border town of Poipet said yesterday that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had ordered immigration officials to provide special treatment to red-shirt supporters crossing over from Thailand.

The official, who requested anonymity, added that all immigration officials had been instructed to not search any red-shirt vehicles.

Okay, that's worrying. I have it on a very good authority that many of the weapons used by the red/black side during April/May 2010 originated from Cambodia.

Given the number of "red guards" there, along with the low turnout, could this rally simply be a guise for an arms run? Stocking up ready for when the "political situation returns to normal"?

The date July has been mentioned over in the other English-language daily.

Hold fast, Thailand. Again.

Strange* how his support changes when he takes rather than gives.

*Not really.

I'm sick the media referring to Taskin Shinawatra as the "fugitive former premier". Surely a more accurate description would be "deposed prime minister Taskin Shinawatra".

Except for the fact that, legally, Thaksin wasn't the PM at the time of the coup. He had resigned and later on, on his own, assumed the PM office unconstitutionally.

This week I'm going on Thaksin The Bare Faced Liar. No problems with spelling or accuracy there.