misterjag

I understand that the moderators need to be cautious during this time of unrest and sympathize with the difficulties they face doing a thankless job. Since we're no longer permitted to post and discuss news clippings in the General Forum, I thought I'd bring a story to your attention here. Abhisit told the BBC on Tuesday why he won't call for a new election.

Thailand crisis: Red-shirt protesters and troops clash

On Tuesday Mr Abhisit told the BBC that while he wanted a political solution to the crisis, immediate elections were not the answer.

"There is a clear threat that if we hold elections too soon, with the mood running as high in terms of divisions and in terms of tension, elections would turn violent and they would solve nothing and we could be back into this vicious cycle of demonstrations."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8648109.stm

He's probably right about that. So what's taking him so long to (re)start this political solution?? Never mind which side (or no side) you support, Abhisit is failing miserably as a leader. (or even as the establishment's spokesperson).

The Red Shirts are protesting because the rural and urban poor--most Thai citizens--have little influence over how the nation is governed. They want a Parliament that fairly reflects their majority interests.

The authoritarian Yellow Shirts, on the other hand, would take to the streets because they don't want to give up the disproportionate power they wield. Anti-democratic forces are going to try to disrupt free elections because they know they'll lose.

I understand that the moderators need to be cautious during this time of unrest and sympathize with the difficulties they face doing a thankless job. Since we're no longer permitted to post and discuss news clippings in the General Forum, I thought I'd bring a story to your attention here. Abhisit told the BBC on Tuesday why he won't call for a new election.

Thailand crisis: Red-shirt protesters and troops clash

On Tuesday Mr Abhisit told the BBC that while he wanted a political solution to the crisis, immediate elections were not the answer.

"There is a clear threat that if we hold elections too soon, with the mood running as high in terms of divisions and in terms of tension, elections would turn violent and they would solve nothing and we could be back into this vicious cycle of demonstrations."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8648109.stm

He's probably right about that. So what's taking him so long to (re)start this political solution?? Never mind which side (or no side) you support, Abhisit is failing miserably as a leader. (or even as the establishment's spokesperson).

They want a Parliament that fairly reflects their majority interests. The Red Shirts are protesting because the rural and urban poor--most Thai citizens--have little influence over how the nation is governed. The authoritarian Yellow Shirts would take to the streets because they don't want to give up the disproportionate power they wield. Anti-democratic forces are going to try to disrupt free elections because they know they'll lose.

According to news reports, the army are stepping up presence around Rajprasong, possibly for a crackdown tonight. In my opinion, pushing the protesters out of Rajprasong could back-fire. Right now they're somewhat peacefully 'stuck' there, but pushing them out of Rajprasong will make them spread all over the city.

Its stupid and shortsighted. Just hold and election.

Stupid and shortsighted? Every time someone disagrees with your country's leadership do they drop everything and hold an election?

The composition of the Thai Parliament and the text of the Constitution are largely the result of backroom deals so there's not much point in comparing the election cycle of U.K.'s House of Commons to the situation in Thailand. U.K.'s Commons fairly reflects the results of democratic balloting . Thailand's present Parliament doesn't.

I understand that the moderators need to be cautious during this time of unrest and sympathize with the difficulties they face doing a thankless job. Since we're no longer permitted to post and discuss news clippings in the General Forum, I thought I'd bring a story to your attention here. Abhisit told the BBC on Tuesday why he won't call for a new election.

Thailand crisis: Red-shirt protesters and troops clash

On Tuesday Mr Abhisit told the BBC that while he wanted a political solution to the crisis, immediate elections were not the answer.

"There is a clear threat that if we hold elections too soon, with the mood running as high in terms of divisions and in terms of tension, elections would turn violent and they would solve nothing and we could be back into this vicious cycle of demonstrations."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8648109.stm

If Abhisit is confident that his platform and job performance have widespread appeal, then he shouldn't fear moving an election forward. The election would act as a referendum reaffirming the current government's legitimacy.

Q+A-Who are Thailand's mysterious black-clad gunmen?

By Martin Petty

BANGKOK, April 27 (Reuters) - Thailand's government has vowed to go after shadowy "terrorists" it blames for triggering bloody clashes between the army and red-shirted demonstrators that left 25 people dead and more than 800 wounded on April 10.

It believes several hundred militants trained in combat are among protesters in their sprawling encampment in downtown Bangkok, well-armed and ready to attack security forces if they try to disperse the crowd.

Here are a few questions and answers about the mysterious black-clad fighters.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE MEN IN BLACK?

Witnesses and grainy video footage revealed armed men with assault rifles and M-79 grenade launchers appeared under cover of darkness on April 10 during a heated standoff between red shirts and troops trying to break up a protest in Bangkok's old quarter.

The government says the rebels, who wore black and covered their faces with hoods and balaclavas, appeared in the crowds of protesters and opened fire on troops, triggering chaos and prompting panicked soldiers to fire back in self-defence.

Government officials and the army believe the men in black are politically aligned with the red shirt movement and sought to cause bloodshed severe enough to force Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to call a new election.

Red shirt leaders say the "black clads" are protecting them, but they don't know who they are...

http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSSGE63P0RC

Abhisit was legally elected under Thai law, so why should he dissolve the house just to please a minority of the population. The Reds are mercenaries and this is nothing to do with democracy, but all to do with Thaksin.

Cheers, Rick

The Thai constitution and Abhisit's government were created by anti-democratic coup plotters.

If Abhisit wants to win broad support for a crackdown on the Red Shirts then he should rise above the fray, act like a statesman instead of a politician, and promise quick elections to follow. If instead he continues to make excuses for why an unpopular government spawned by coup plotters should continue to cling to power, then we'll just see nine more months of disruptive demonstrations. Ultimately, in a parliamentary system, the only solution is dissolution. We get the message that it should be done in an orderly fashion and that it shouldn't look like Red Shirt blackmail, but forces for democracy won't rest --and there won't be any peace and stability--until the legitimacy of the government is restored through the ballot box.

Thai PM rejects Red Shirts' Compromise

The Red Shirts had offered to extend their demand for immediate dissolution of the government for 30 days as long as elections were held within two months.

The prime minister says parliament must be dissolved when the time is right for Thailand.

"The 30-day concession is just aimed at getting the attention of foreign media. I don't think it is the answer to the problems," Mr Abhisit said.

"Tomorrow everything will become more clear when I and the army chief will jointly appear on my weekly television address.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04...m?section=world

Thai Protesters Brace for Crackdown as Compromise Rejected

"Abhisit has ordered a crackdown on protesters within 48 hours, that is the information I have learned," said Red Shirt leader Nattawut Saikuar...

Mr Nattawut said the Reds would strip off the symbols of their allegiance - the red T-shirts and other garb they have sported for weeks - to help them fight back against the government.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-...x-1225857833919

The vast majority of people sleeping at the airport are stranded and desperate to leave Thailad because their scheduled flights were cancelled by volcanic dust and they were supposed to return to their jobs after a scheduled vacation.

They're not at the airport because they're fleeing "Red Shirt Mayhem".

The thread title is duplicitous.

Australians have been urged to reconsider any plans to travel to Thailand, warning of further violence after an Australian was injured in escalating political clashes in Bangkok.

The foreign affairs department issued the travel warning as it confirmed that a 26-year-old Australian was hospitalised after being wounded in a grenade blast in an elevated railway station late Thursday.

"We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Thailand due to the recent deterioration in the security environment caused by widening political unrest and civil disorder," the advisory said.

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/a...00423-tik9.html

The Thaksin reds (as recently proven once again) are not a force you can have good faith negotiations with. They are all or nothing. That is obvious. So this totally peaceful solution is IMPOSSIBLE.

It's pretty obvious you're trying to demonize a group that is conducting peaceful protests to justify a violent response from the government.

Occupying the airport was a far more ruinous action, but the yellow shirt demonstrators were handled by the government with kid gloves. Why the double standard?

Lack of self esteem is probably the biggest issue.

Nope, why should they dissolve at the whim of a convicted criminal?

The only difference between Thaksin's corruption and Abhisit's cronies' corruption is that the former's been sentenced and the latter haven't had their day in court.

The results ratio totally predictable based on the results here:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=3461271

It is heartening to know that most foreigners do not favor caving to the violent red shirt Thaksin led angry mob.

Where are these violent demonstrations you speak of?

I guess this proves the elites are more computer literate than the Red Shirts. Big surprise.

Political organizations worth their salt have organized finances. They feed and transport their campaign workers. I think it's silly to suggest, however, that these protesters are profiting. Sure there's probably an unemployed minority that are happy to camp out in Bangkok for free meals, but most have sacrificed time away from jobs, family, friends and alternative pursuits to travel considerable distances to demonstrate for a cause they believe in. They've made sacrifices

BTW, what law are the demonstrators (as a whole, not some individuals) breaking? Are political demonstrations illegal in Thailand?

How about traffic laws for a start? Refusing to obey orders of the Police, Inciting violence, (see the Youtube clip)

Every right has an equal and opposite duty and in case of the right to a political demonstration, the right finds its limits in the duty to respect the right of others to freely move and go about their business. Fundamental but obviously not so well known here.

In civilised countries with a democratic tradition, such large gatherings of the crowds would need prior consent of the police to put in place measures to control traffic etc. and time limits would be imposed and nobody would question such obligations. Why do the Red Shirts believe they are above the law? Is this the democracy and rule of law he have to expect if they come to power?

A large segment of Thailand's citizenry believes that the nation's democratic institutions have been subverted so they're responding (so far) with non-violent resistance or civil disobedience. (There is the question of who's responsible for the grenade incidents, but since the army would have easiest access to late model grenades and an incentive to discredit the red shirts, ...it's still an open question.)

No doubt a lot of potential travellers remember the airport being closed down for a long period of time. Thailand = the Third World on steroids.

The Yellow Shirts' occupation of the airport is like a dark cloud hanging over Thai tourism. Now, at the first sign of unrest, vacation planners start to question their ability to return home from holiday on a timely basis.

As for violence, I think tourists who have never been to Thailand would be more likely to worry about that. For now, the rest of us are more concerned about being inconvenienced. (That could change, however, if the police and army start clubbing protesters. Nobody wants to holiday in a war zone.)

It may not be automatic at land borders, but I wasn't fined for one day overstays at Ranong or Poipet.

It's easy to understand the appeal of Thaksin to the common Thai. He's like Thailand's version of Huey Long.

I for one appreciate the heads up.

Maybe Yan tree should check out the thread titled: On Tv..be Careful, Words Have Power

Your quite welcome. Not surprisingly, I'd rather add pages for free in the next couple weeks than wait and pay $82 for the privilege.

They're planning to jack up the price of a U.S. passport from $100 to $135 and it'll cost $82 to add pages!

http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/...tment-def-6492/

Thanks for the heads up, MTH and Lite Beer. I'll have to make a quick adjustment to my travel plans. I don't understand why these embassy websites bother to put up a holiday calendar when it's inaccurate.

I realize Monday is a Buddhist holiday, but none of the several Thai Embassy/Consulate websites I've visited indicate that they're closed on Monday.