rainman

[This could mean that a crackdown is on the cards and bloodshed will happen, then Abhisit steps down..

Army has already said they will not hurt thai people, so I don't think that will happen.

There will be a coup very quickly or abhisit will try to hang on and draw it out.... but will eventually be TOLD to call elections.

As what he is doing now is making a mockery out of the party and the military at the same time.

Publicly telling the army chiefs that he's in charge, not them, was probably a last desperate attempt to stay in office. I don't think Anupong will like this public humiliation though.

I fully support a coup that is followed by free and fair elections.

That's how we got to this point in the first place.

Nope. The last coup wasn't followed by free and fair elections.

They should try and get Carabao to come...

A coup would now be the most peaceful way forward,lets hope it happens quickly like tomorrow!

I fully support a coup that is followed by free and fair elections.

I definitely don't support a coup that will turn into another few years of absolute army rule and then end up with the army choosing a new PM.

Humiliating the Army generals & Police chiefs on live television ...I'm sure that will give him their support back.

"No government can stay in power unless law enforcement is effective", he said.

Well, looks like the government won't stay in power then, according to Abhisit himself.

"I shall not give up. It is the single mission to achieve," he said.

Obviously, not giving up his job as PM is the most important thing. Not even if civil war breaks out in Thailand. The most important mission to achieve is holding on at all cost.

Rainman, do you even look at the news in the rest of the world? Are you aware that Abhisit is not in fact satan?

Where did I write that Abhisit is satan? You're ridiculous.

Forgot one more:

- Abhisit will promise, yet again, that everything will be over by Songkran.

I'm going to take a guess at what will happen tomorrow:

- Thailand will wake up to the PTV signal being blocked again.

- Red shirts will head to ThaiCom once again.

- Army & Police will throw smoke bombs and tear gas against the wind again.

- Army & Police will run away again.

- Red shirts take over ThaiCom again.

- Abhisit will speak on national TV pool again saying that he is completely in control.

- Abhisit will issue another 1,000,000 arrest warrants for everyone and their grandmother.

- Army & Police chiefs will have dinner with the red shirt leaders at the nearest SomTam shop and discuss lottery numbers.

Heartening news. Maybe Abhisit made the right moves to get things on track again to break up the insurgents.

Glad to see that you are showing how thick and insensitive some of these red protestors are.

Taking your kids to a demonstration where it is possible, nay PROBABLE, that violence will break out, is criminal, at best totally irresponsible.

I doubt you have kids, rainman, but even you through those red tinted bins, can surely not condone that!!!.

Just showing you what the "insurgents" look like, so that you can blow them away with a water cannon when you see them!

If they black it out tonight again, guess where the red shirts will head first thing tomorrow morning? Let's hope the army and police don't need to nerve-gas and smoke-bomb themselves again.

With the billions that Abhisit has borrowed from the World Bank, I'm surprised they haven't yet made his daily TV pool speeches Pay-Per-View.

How does the Thai borrowings compare to most other countries borrowings? About the same or less?

I don't know how they stack up to other countries, but what I do know is that Thaksin managed to pay off all debts to the World Bank while he was PM. Shortly after Abhisit took over, he started plunging Thailand into debt again. For what? Thailand isn't a poor country. Sure, most Thai people aren't rich, but the government is.

I'm able to watch PTV too. Both on the web, directly through TRUE internet, as well as on normal television if I switch over from UBC.

Heartening news. Maybe Abhisit made the right moves to get things on track again to break up the insurgents.

With the billions that Abhisit has borrowed from the World Bank, I'm surprised they haven't yet made his daily TV pool speeches Pay-Per-View.

You're dodging my question. If the red shirt protesters are so violent as you've been claiming for the past days, why is it that Abhisit is putting innocement WOMEN in the front line and potentially in harm's way?

Now you are just being sexist.

No points.

Besides women in combat gear are backed up by men in combat gear.

And I have seen some mean ass Thai ladies beating on their men successfully.

Come on more straws to grasp at, till you're drip dry.

Okay, let's take your point of view then that the women are no less vulnerable than the men against supposed violent crowds. Why are you criticizing the monks then? After all, the police are armed, and the monks are not.

Whatever way you spin it, you know you don't make sense and you don't have a point.

You're dodging my question. If the red shirt protesters are so violent as you've been claiming for the past days, why is it that Abhisit is putting innocement WOMEN in the front line and potentially in harm's way?

The only person that has lost is Abhisit.

- He banned the TV station PTV, yet it's back up against his will.

- He issued nearly 30 arrest warrants for red shirt leaders, yet they're seen on national television chatting and even laughing with high ranking police offers.

Talk about losing face.

Talk about using a light hand and letting them get more violent,

but not provoke world news violent attacks on them.

Kid gloves even with some tear gas.

The violent ones were in RED.

Talk about how corrupt that police general is...

He was seen on the job ignoring his duty to act.

A light hand? You're hilarious!

The police and army teargassed and smoked themselves, because the wind was blowing in their direction. Even the TNN News reporter mentioned it and couldn't believe it. After that, they ran away. And it ended with the police chiefs negotiating with the red shirt leaders, which Abhisit has ordered to be arrested "on sight". However, the police weren't following his orders, clearly, as they were chatting and laughing with the red shirt leaders.

So really, the "light hand" is more like "no hand". Or do you have another explanation?

putting monks in the front line... versus police women...

Dude, you've got to drop your double standards.

For days you're saying that the red shirts are violent terrorists and insurgents, but you don't complain against Abhisit's decision to put WOMEN in the front line. If they're so dangerous and violent, why is Abhisit risking the lives of innocent women?

Doesn't make sense to me. However, you DO complain against monks being put in front of women.

The only person that has lost is Abhisit.

- He banned the TV station PTV, yet it's back up against his will.

- He issued nearly 30 arrest warrants for red shirt leaders, yet they're seen on national television chatting and even laughing with high ranking police offers.

Talk about losing face.

80,000 cops

60,000 protesters

.... and yet still the protesters have the upper hand....

Out of the 80,000 cops, 79,999 are "poor Thais" (aka. red shirts). Ever wondered why they always step aside when the red shirts come through? Why they're laughing and smiling with them?

When the reds get in, they will need to immediatey start a program of national reconcilliation. Given the players involved, I can't see that happening.

I have seen no sign whatsoever of any reconciliation sentiment from the red side.

A few months ago, Thaksin offered a power-sharing deal to Abhisit. However, Abhisit quickly declined it.

The main cause here is that the lower class and poor Thais, which are sadly the majority, feel that their voices are not being heard and their will not being respected. So what if they vote for Thaksin instead of another corrupt politician. It's their choice. Don't believe for a single second that any other Thai politician isn't corrupt. The Thai people never had the choice between a sincere politician or a corrupt politician - and they know that. But they choose the politician that they think does the most good for them.

So they chose Thaksin. And so Thaksin became the only Thai PM to serve out his full term in office -and- be reelected to another term. Is he corrupt? Sure. But look where he got Thailand in just a few years.

Think of him as Thailand's Berlusconi. Everyone knows Italy's Berlusconi is corrupt. He controls the media, he bribes officials, he uses his power as PM to close business deals and much more. Why do Italians keep voting for Berlusconi? Because he does the most good for Italy.

Back to Thailand. The Thai people have found their Berlusconi in Thaksin. They vote for him. He serves out his full term. They vote for him again and he gets removed by the "elite" that has gotten used to running the country for decades and doesn't want to give up their power. Obviously, the poor Thais get angry and take to the streets. Their voices are not being heard and their votes are not being accepted. Finally, when they are getting desperate to simply get their rights back, they're being called terrorists and insurgents.

Let these people have their voices heard - or they will do whatever it takes to be heard.

From what was shown on TNN News, the army basically threw smoke and tear gas grenades towards the protesters, without noticing that the wind was blowing their way. Dozens of soldiers had to be treated, by red shirts for breathing problems.

Which ever way you cut it, it looks like Reds 1 - 0 Government today.

and as we all know the away goals rule it means that the Bangkokians need to score at least 2-0 in their next game to win. 1-1 is a victory for the away team.

If it ends 1-0 for the government tomorrow, will there be extra time or does it go straight to penalty kicks?