WinnieTheKhwai

They're small prop planes, white with a green stripe. Some are twin engined I believe.

^ Agreed. Also agree that a Western left-right scale doesn't really apply, but still wanted to at least refute that the red shirts are in any way similar to Western right-wing crazies. (Some of them clearly are crazies of one kind or another though, i find no shortage of crazies on any side. )

> How can a man of such means be thought of as the representative of the poor and uneducated?

Because he was the first one ever to take them seriously.

The better question is: how can past governments have stamped on the rural poor for so long and gotten away with it.

Alright, some more then. (Unless it was a snipe at the large migrant poplation in Bangkok. You might say that most people in Bangkok -period- were not born in Bangkok.

I could go on.

Hi Yunnie, I appreciate the comments; will respond in more detail tomorrow.

WTK.

The "Reddies" seem to be out of Lower Sukhumvit. I'm at Asoke and not a See Daeng in sight.

Good riddance

Chances are that most people you meet in those parts are, even though they don't wear red on the outside. (Depends a little on what sort of people you speak to of course, but I'm making assumptions. )

What Rainman said is nowhere close to being against Thai law. It'd be a slippery slope towards complete cancellation of freedom of expression if it was; think about it, and if you would really want to live in a country that repressive? I think you don't, and I don't either.

Not really. It just distinguishes background stories from hard-news events. Of course you can have (and should have) unbiased analysis of a complicated situation that's being reported on. International news media by and large succeed in this.

Is there actually any link to NCA the bus line? NC there stands for Nakhon Chai.

Will this help? http://www.nca.co.th/index.php

Not really; I know that's the site for the excellent NCA bus company, but no mention of any aviation activities.

Let me try and fix the original premise, and then agree with you:

Wow if this really happened, seriously... these people are one person may be out of control.

I dont understand why they would target a military base/ soldiers. They, like everyone else, are just doing their job

..their job, specifically: keeping the military-bureaucratic estasblishment in power, and allowing them to manage, control and/or stifle the processes and institutions that pass for democracy in this country?

Red shirts remind of Right wing conservative crazies.

That's interesting, because if anything it's a very socialist leaning agenda of empowerment of the poor rural masses. Not what you'd associate with right-wing crazies. I mean it's all out there on the internet, straight from the horses mouth; you DO inform yourself beyond what you're being fed by the local press right?

(PAD on the other hand, ok, those guys come pretty close to right-wing crazies. The Nation even hinted at Maoist tendencies on the part of the Red Shirts. (Not that I agree with any syllable in that publication on any given day, but still.)

So.. what does that mean.. Will there be rain?

Just when I think nothing that happens here can surprise me...

The Redshirt 'blood drive' was one of the most abhorrent, disgusting travesties I have ever witnessed. Whatever sympathies (and they were admittedly few) I may have had for them are dissolved by this sickening demonstration of mindless hate. Shame, shame, shame!

Wow.

Can you PLEASE look around you and realize you're in Thailand (you are, right?). It was a symbolic black-magic ceremony. These are very common in most parts of the country. A lot of this is just below the surface, but to be honest it's hard to live in Thailand and not eventually notice the importance and omnipresence of animist based rituals.

You may at best call that silly, but then any expression of religion or spirituality can be called that.

Consider for example that Abhisit, as most other people of his background, routinely offer pig heads to the spirits at least once a year. You might call that silly too, or you might embrace the notion that we live in a spiritual country with many interesting ceremonies and cultural and relgious expressions.

Sheesh. Talk about "mindless hate"

Right, obviously. You wonder if some posters are even in Thailand..? Rain is good, especially this time of year.

PROS:

- Friendly people / culture

- High standard of living (value for money)

- Love all aspects of Thailand: music, food, religion, etc.. it just fits for me.

CONS:

- Lack of any sort of safety standards

- Corruption, bureaucracy / not a fully democratic country which doesn't affect single guys but does affect my children.

- Ugly women

(Ok, I needed three. )

> Thai democracy was set back about 75 years when Thaksin bought the 2005 elections.

I think you will find that the 2005 elections were the least corrupt in Thai history, primarily because the need for vote buying was reduced primarily due to:

1. Unification of regional power brokers under TRT

2. Populist policies / "making good on promises for the first time" so people knew that they had more to expect from a TRT government than a couple hundred baht on election day!

> "Liberating" this county from what, from the "Military-Dictatorship and non elected government"?

Yes.. Well: more or less; there are elections alright. The issue is that the resulting government isn't really in charge of a couple key areas in Thailand. Also refer to Huey's post; The Times Online phrased this rather spot on a while back, talking about newspapers getting in trouble for using anything but the most flowery prose on some topics, or even the order in which they print pictures accompanying an article. You can't expect the likes of the BBC, Economist, Newsweek et al to pander to every local sensibility when talking to a global adult audience. As long as they stay balanced and respectful in content of course, which all of them do; you don't see the BBC or the Times calling countries a 'gangster state' for example do you, like a Thai daily newspaper did.

I agree, mostly, except with your first line that international media are "Pro Red". They're not; they're trying to paint a balanced and comprehensive picture without the spin that you get in every single local article. By comparison with the likes of the Thai English language dailies that may seem Red, but that'd be wrong, other than relatively speaking.

I posted an example here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Balanced-Unb...Li-t348258.html

> What must the World think of Thailand

Well, don't forget that "The World" by and large gets their news not from The Nation or other papers with a focus on painting anyone opposed to the Democrats or the establishment with the blackest possible paint.

Quite possible the only thing that registers is that there was a by and large orderly political demonstration, much like there was one in Italiy around the same time against their government, and that this may be a sign of greater political participation among the population.

It's all good.

Cheers guys. Don't mind the teardrops in the corners of my eyes... oh I can see you're all crying too, how touching.

I really wonder what 437 is like, must be like standing right in the middle of a forest fire.

437 may be more convenient to get rid of, because at those levels you can just cut the air in cubes, pack it in boxes, call Nim See Seng and ship it South.

Let's pray for some Saint Patrick's Day rain!!!!!!!

(But if not then we'll get drunk anyway. )

too bad theres no guinness left!!

Who needs Guinness when there's Sang Som left!

didnt know sangsom was Irish?

unless youre drinking it out in yr paddy field.

...right, not to mention eating out someone elses paddy field.

RESULTS ARE IN!!!!

AND WE HAVE A WINNER!!!

And The Golden Facemask Goes To...

(opening envelope)

Meadish Sweetball!!!

279.3

I to live in Doi Saket. This time last year IMHO it was worst, so bad that not only could I not see the temple from my house but also the 118 which is only half a klick from my house.

2007 was worse. 2009 was not as good as 2008, but 2007 was possibly the worst year in recent history.

You seem to have an unreasonable bias against benevolent dictatorships.

This has GOT to be the

Post Of The Day Award!!!

> I think this is something that a lot of red shirts are missing.

I think so too; that's why I called it a balanced article.

End of 2011 I believe:

On 23 December 2007 national parliamentary election was held, based on the new constitution, and People Power Party (Thai Rak Thai's and Thaksin's proxy party), led by former Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravej, began taking the reins of government. Thailand's new Parliament convened on January 21, 2008.

I'd say it's exceptionally unlikely that Thailand will have to wait that long, though. Not because of protests, but because Newin needs to start making a move.