Military pledges firm backing for PM Prayut

[Ron19]

Post against forum rules has been removed.

 

11) You will not post slurs, degrading or overly negative comments directed towards Thailand, specific locations, Thai institutions such as the judicial or law enforcement system, Thai culture, Thai people or any other group on the basis of race, nationality, religion, gender or sexual orientation.

[stephen tracy]

7 hours ago, TKDfella said:

And I have been saying a while...it won't happen...mass demonstrations etc. that is. The government have the guns and...civil war. I don't think so.Why? here's an example; one family I know have four sons, two in the military and two in college...won't go into long detail...but the son's in military said they would follow orders no matter what. It made me wonder just how many families here are in a similar situation. And those in college may have to do a 1 or 2 year after college, so I've been told by the father. The PM has tasted power and wants to keep it and unless there is an opposition just as strong as the military backing then it might stay that way. Philosophically, most of us know that freedom is something like a 'relative illusion' (big brother, new laws for terrorism etc) in any country and while Thais are retain what they have at present (socially speaking) they believe they are still free.

A valid point but I'm not sure I agree. All (word I cannot say) have the guns etc. but history has proven that no matter how many guns you have, and no matter how brutal and ruthless your security apparatus is, when people have had enough, outrage trumps fear. Tunisia, Syria and Egypt are all recent examples of this. Admittedly, with regards to the latter, things have not turned out well but this is unfinished business. And as for the two sons saying they would follow orders no matter what, it's easy to say that, but a very different thing when you're ordered to open fire on your own countrymen. A significant portion of the armed resistance in Syria was made up of regime military defectors who refused to shoot at unarmed protestors, many of them women and children. 

[cookieqw]

He said to support the government was the military’s central role

 

depends on the government

[Enoon]

12 hours ago, stephen tracy said:

He has effectively made the only available option violence. He knows that. That's why he bought the new tanks and armoured vehicles. And that's why they're parked outside Bangkok. Never could work out the reason for the Chinese sub though. I don't think he will lose the power of Article 44. It will just be replaced by the same thing with a different name. My prediction is that once he sails into the country's leadership after the "election", he will be a lot less restrained than he his now. The military is now there at his disposal. It's over. There's not even any point in having an election, it's just a bit of window dressing that he thinks might but him some time with the international community. But like pretty much every (word we cannot say) in history, he and his coterie will inevitably eventually overplay their hand. Thailand can only sit back and wait for that Tunisia moment. 

 

Welcome to the lead "Peleton".

 

 

 

Edited April 27, 2018 by Enoon

[stephen tracy]

7 hours ago, InMyShadow said:

Nonsense. You don't rise through the ranks to  General and then insert yourself into the position of Prime minister (by what ever means) by being stupid.

Stupid is working for peanuts as an English teacher. Stupid is retiring on a teeny weeny pension and posting from a bar stool. Stupid is marrying a bar girl..I could go on and on...

 

"isn't even facing any resistance."

 

Its been 4 or 5 years. No tanks , no armed soldiers , no violence. So whats stopping the Thais?  NOTHING! Prayut has done more than the last 5 pms combined and Thais are NOT stupid. They like what they see and absolutely guaranteed 1000% he will be voted in as PM

So there will be a mass exudes of expats via suvarnabumi when that happens ...not ! lol

There are so many examples that highlight the opposite of you claim, it would be impossible to list them. In Thailand you can easily rise through the ranks of the "military"and be as dumb as a brick. It's about money and connections. Prayuth is a classic example of that. He's not even a soldier. Who in their right mind would ever follow the imbecile into a battlefield. Can you ever conceive of him or Dumbo planning military strategy to defend the country against an external threat? They bought a submarine. That will be useful facing an external threat to Thailand's territorial sovereignty!. If you need another current example of stupidity prevailing, look at Donald Trump. As for your second point, it is the threat of violence, abduction, incarceration and the military deployed on the streets that is stopping people from acting (and incarceration is now not just a threat but a reality). That is always what stops people from acting, not just in Thailand but anywhere where people live under a (word I cannot mention... again). It never ceases to amaze how expats commenting on the political situation have the audacity to speak on behalf of Thais.... "They like what they see"? According to who?

[InMyShadow]

How can you possibly know there are 60 million happy Thais? I know several staunch yellows who are all but happy about the bunch of clowns currently running the country..

 

Sent from my SM-J730GM using Tapatalk

 

My GF runs a team of 30 staff here in bangkok and I asked her what they think and the answer was "they don't think anything.. No problems"

 

Where is the revolution? And what exactly would they lay their lives down for?

 

Over to you?

 

Ps no way they are going to die for a few face book fools.

 

Go for it, you can keep it in point from if like [emoji16]

 

[stephen tracy]

12 minutes ago, sjaak327 said:

How can you possibly know there are 60 million happy Thais? I know several staunch yellows who are all but happy about the bunch of clowns currently running the country..

Sent from my SM-J730GM using Tapatalk
 

Apparently he's roamed the land interviewing every man.woman and child in the country. Or maybe he just spoke to the village drunk who shrugged his shoulders and muttered something about needing more some more whiskey and said "Prayuth number one!" before he puked and fell over. 

Edited April 27, 2018 by stephen tracy

[sjaak327]

Where is the revolution? And what exactly would they lay their lives down for?

Over to you?

Ps no way they are going to die for a few face book fools.

Go for it, you can keep it in point from if like [emoji16]

Revolution? How can someone be so out of touch with the people that live in this country? You quite obviously have no clue.

Sent from my SM-J730GM using Tapatalk

[stephen tracy]

7 minutes ago, InMyShadow said:

Where is the revolution? And what exactly would they lay their lives down for?

Over to you?

Ps no way they are going to die for a few face book fools.

Go for it, you can keep it in point from if like

I'm sure El-Abdine, Assad and Mubarak would now disagree with you. You do realise that Facebook and Twitter were the prime mediums for mobilizing opposition and civil unrest against again all of the above? 

[InMyShadow]

I'm sure El-Abdine, Assad and Mubarak would now disagree with you. You do realise that Facebook and Twitter were the prime mediums for mobilizing opposition and civil unrest against again all of the above? 

They are but there have been protests here recently and by students. What happened? Oh well you know.. They weren't shot and the 60 million refused to back them

But my question remains unanswered.

Why would the Thais lay down their lives?

Give me 10 good reasons and I will reconsider my position.

[Enoon]

7 hours ago, InMyShadow said:

 

The army is the only thing stopping Thailand descending in a long and bloody civil war.

 

 

 

There was a Civil War in 2014.

 

The Army took the side that overthrew the Government.

 

That civil war could not have been won without the involvement of the Army.

 

There was little bloodshed and it was very short.

 

There has been a major change in the "management" of power since then.

 

The "checks and balances" (in the widest, "populist", sense) no longer manifest themselves as they once did.

 

They have fallen (and are falling) apart.

 

That change means that the next civil war (in which the Army will takes sides once again) will not be short and it will be bloody.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 27, 2018 by Enoon

[Enoon]

11 minutes ago, InMyShadow said:

Why would the Thais lay down their lives?

 

 

Only one reason needed:

 

Because the old "Thailand" is gone.

 

That was the only reason the bloodshed was not widespread before.

 

 

[taiwanatoa]

He didn't come up with that plan, here merely implemented it with the blessings of those who installed him. He is their attack dog, a useful idiot. But he is their idiot. 

So who did " come up with it" ? You?

[metisdead]

An offensive hyperbolic troll post has been removed. 

[hathairat2711]

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/abhisit-accuses-government-trying-block-financial-support-parties/

 

The government has been trying to block political parties from getting financial support from their financial sponsors, said Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva on Friday (April 27).

“I confirm that there are talks about an attempt by the government to prevent financial supporters to fund political parties.  Someone in the government told me about this,” Mr Abhisit told the media.

[Psimbo]

There's nothing like free and fair elections and these will be nothing like free and fair elections. 

[stephen tracy]

18 minutes ago, InMyShadow said:

They are but there have been protests here recently and by students. What happened? Oh well you know.. They weren't shot and the 60 million refused to back them

But my question remains unanswered.

Why would the Thais lay down their lives?

Give me 10 good reasons and I will reconsider my position.

The shots weren't fired in the countries I mentioned until the unarmed protests grew in number and geography to represent what was perceived by the ruling elites as a threat to their thrones and began to receive moral support from the democratic countries. The reasons Thais, like any other nationality on the face of the planet, might be willing to "lay down their lives", as you put it, would be for the same reasons every other nation has done so: in order to overthrow regimes that deny all stakeholders within a nation-state the right to self-determination without the threat of violence and incarceration. In a way you've answered your question all by yourself but haven't noticed. The very fact that people would have to "lay down their lives" for the sake of freedom means that the ruling elites are willing to kill/incarcerate in order to quash that freedom. I think you'll find that throughout history people have been willing to take such action to challenge those that would use violence to maintain their wealth and privilege. 

[taiwanatoa]

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/abhisit-accuses-government-trying-block-financial-support-parties/
 

The government has been trying to block political parties from getting financial support from their financial sponsors, said Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva on Friday (April 27).

“I confirm that there are talks about an attempt by the government to prevent financial supporters to fund political parties.  Someone in the government told me about this,” Mr Abhisit told the media.

That is a strange thing for Abhisit to say, seeing as he and Suthep and the generals are all bosom buddies.

[TKDfella]

39 minutes ago, stephen tracy said:

A valid point but I'm not sure I agree. All (word I cannot say) have the guns etc. but history has proven that no matter how many guns you have, and no matter how brutal and ruthless your security apparatus is, when people have had enough, outrage trumps fear. Tunisia, Syria and Egypt are all recent examples of this. Admittedly, with regards to the latter, things have not turned out well but this is unfinished business. And as for the two sons saying they would follow orders no matter what, it's easy to say that, but a very different thing when you're ordered to open fire on your own countrymen. A significant portion of the armed resistance in Syria was made up of regime military defectors who refused to shoot at unarmed protestors, many of them women and children. 

Yes I do understand what you are saying and like you have said, agree with you some extent. Your point about '...open fire on your own countrymen...' was precisely in my 'hint' but I was being more specific, intimating one's own family. And of course you're right about history too...but...history is also replete with the swinging of political system from one way to another. Don't misunderstand me, I am not (and don't want to be) anywhere near an expert on political systems but it is generally thought that the Sumerian civilization made the mold for our western political ideas passed down from there. The Greeks, Romans, Spartans etc. all had the struggles for power and as far as my opinion goes, the only difference between then and now is that they went to a battlefield and sorted it out whereas today it is far less open. Your examples of the middle eastern countries is a valid one but I think Thailand's history has been less chaotic (in comparison) and therefore the temperament is not the same. Indeed, the short conflict with Japan which (according to what I've read) soon resulted in Thailand helping Japan (and issuing a declaration of war to the USA and UK) makes me wonder if there would be a determined effort to remove the present regime. Thanks for the chat anyway.

[stephen tracy]

13 minutes ago, taiwanatoa said:

So who did " come up with it" ? You?

Any mention of that would result in suspension. 

[stephen tracy]

59 minutes ago, InMyShadow said:

My GF runs a team of 30 staff here in bangkok and I asked her what they think and the answer was "they don't think anything.. No problems"

 

Where is the revolution? And what exactly would they lay their lives down for?

 

Over to you?

 

Ps no way they are going to die for a few face book fools.

 

Go for it, you can keep it in point from if like

 

Thailand according to "my girlfriend". 

[boomerangutang]

9 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

To those who do not believe, look at the last Burmese election.

The people are smarter than you think...

If the people are smarter than mud, then they're smarter than I think they are.

 

re; the OP:   sample conversation in a Thai military barracks:

 

General Somchai (addressing a group of soldiers):

 

"Men, who here does not support my friend General Prayut as PM for life?"

 

no one speaks up.

 

"I take that as an endorsement of the good general. Is that right?"

 

Soldiers in unison, "Yes sir!"

 

"Ok, I'm going to call Prayut and tell him he has 100% support in this barracks. Dismissed."

 

[InMyShadow]

Look at you guys, the same handful relentlessly hammering away at the Junta the last few years ..S.tracy, baboon, and the other 3 names escape me.

 

What have you achieved? where are the hundreds of expats backing you on TV? All I see is back slapping with intellectual conversation like " yeah the Pm is an idiot"

 

Im not going to sugar coat this. You guys have failed miserably in in gathering support. Why? the same reasons the Thais are not uprising.

Its surreal to watch a handful of guys who think they are representing both expats and the thai people and actually REALLY believe it LMAO. You cant make this stuff up!

 

 

[baboon]

17 minutes ago, InMyShadow said:

Look at you guys, the same handful relentlessly hammering away at the Junta the last few years ..S.tracy, baboon, and the other 3 names escape me.

 

What have you achieved? where are the hundreds of expats backing you on TV? All I see is back slapping with intellectual conversation like " yeah the Pm is an idiot"

 

Im not going to sugar coat this. You guys have failed miserably in in gathering support. Why? the same reasons the Thais are not uprising.

Its surreal to watch a handful of guys who think they are representing both expats and the thai people and actually REALLY believe it LMAO. You cant make this stuff up!

 

 

You seem to do a good line in making things up, let's be honest here......

I represent no-one but myself. Some people - the cool ones - agree with me and others don't. Who says it has to be "achieving" anything?

Edit: Please do not forget to include Eligius, JAG and Eric Loh on your list of infamy. They would be most upset. Cheers!

Edited April 27, 2018 by baboon

[stephen tracy]

3 minutes ago, InMyShadow said:

Look at you guys, the same handful relentlessly hammering away at the Junta the last few years ..S.tracy, baboon, and the other 3 names escape me.

 

What have you achieved? where are the hundreds of expats backing you on TV? All I see is back slapping with intellectual conversation like " yeah the Pm is an idiot"

 

Im not going to sugar coat this. You guys have failed miserably in in gathering support. Why? the same reasons the Thais are not uprising.

Its surreal to watch a handful of guys who think they are representing both expats and the thai people and actually REALLY believe it LMAO. You cant make this stuff up!

 

 

Why would expats want to gather support? You'd end in jail and deported. They are just commenting on the political situation as they see fit because they live here and care about the future of the country. Expats may not enjoy much in the way of rights in Thailand but they are also stakeholders in the country's future nonetheless. As are the foreign companies based in Thailand. It's called having an opinion and expressing it. You show no shyness in expressing yours here. Admittedly, this is not something encouraged by the junta but people do have them (opinions) and appreciate having the freedom to voice them. Obviously the 60 million Thais that you have gotten to know during your time here (no modest achievement by the way) disagree, according to you, and I assume we can take your word for that. (BTW: it is "surreal to watch" a foreign guy who claims to have interviewed 60 million Thai people, including his girlfriend who manages 30 of these people). You also say that the "Thais are not uprising". I think you need to me a little more precise in wording. There have been numerous people tossed in jail for criticizing the junta and and/or "summoned" for Attitude Adjustment, or merely "visited", and there are mounting calls for expressions of protest against the junta and what it represents from various quarters. As for full blown uprising - or intifada - as they Arabs call it (a great word when translated literally), this requires time as most reasonable people are willing to give the powers that be the scope to negotiate. I've already mentioned this to you in a previous response in one way or another. 

[metisdead]

Inflammatory posts and the replies have been removed.  

[Eric Loh]

14 minutes ago, baboon said:

You seem to do a good line in making things up, let's be honest here......

I represent no-one but myself. Some people - the cool ones - agree with me and others don't. Who says it has to be "achieving" anything?

Edit: Please do not forget to include Eligius, JAG and Eric Loh on your list of infamy. They would be most upset. Cheers!

Why be upset when you are being entertained by a comedian. No substance in his posts but shallow rant. You really can’t be serious with someone who derive his information from his gf and a cast of 30. 

[KiwiKiwi]

"Asked if the military would become a tool in Prayut’s political campaign, the supreme commander said the military did what it did regardless of people’s perceptions."

 

There ya go. In case there's still someone who thinks the military gives a fig for what the Thai people need or want.

[KhunFred]

Face facts. The military will always be the tie-breaker in Thai politics. It is simply a waste of time to go back to representative pseudo-Democracy. It is always subject to the whims of the Generals. Junta rule seems to work about as well as anything else. Most expats notice no difference in their day to day lives. Why do western countries CARE about Thailand's political business??

[chama]

19 hours ago, maxcorrigan said:

The truth is he has threatened all the resistance, not allowing meetings more than 5 people that is, with threats of jail, meanwhile making sure he cannot be touched with his total amnesty using art.44 whenever he feels like it and so on, Thailand does not deserve this, and how they will get out of this and return to some sort of democracy I've no idea, other than bloodshed and more take overs, time will tell! 

You know this, I know this, many who post on this site know this...but do the Thais (in large enough numbers) know this or are they just sheep being led to slaughter?