Police may charge political rally leaders

[mauGR1]

7 minutes ago, cmsally said:

I would imagine a large number that possibly voted for the government were "fence sitters" , who voted for some sort of status quo rather than turmoil in the view that after the election the economy would improve. It is now rather obvious that the economy did not improve and those fence sitters are probably having second thoughts.

I think the same, and it's not a proven fact that any change in power will guarantee a miraculous improvement, if any.

Edited December 16, 2019 by mauGR1

[Enoon]

58 minutes ago, cmsally said:

The solution to this problem is really tricky.

 

If the problem is attainment of a Modern, Liberal Democracy, the solution is very much more than "tricky".

 

And a lot more problematic for expats than visas, health insurance or the price of imported steak.

 

Vietnam: 30 years of independence/civil war.

Laos: 16 years of civil war.

Cambodia: Civil war and as many as 2 million genocide deaths.

Burma: Over 50 years facing multiple independence/insurgent groups and engaging in genocide/ethnic cleansing.

 

All "Buddhist" countries.

 

But the lotus eating expat population of Thailand carries on munching the flowers, blissfully confident that it could "never happen here".

 

This is the "New Era".

 

 

 

Edited December 16, 2019 by Enoon

[FarFlungFalang]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Senator Somchai Sawangkarn also posted a message on his Facebook account stating that the rally was illegal as the Public Assembly Act requires organisers to notify the event in advance, and prohibits the assembly from taking place within a 150-metre radius of the palace.

Senator Somchai should also post on his Facebook account that the coup was illegal and that any subsequent actions by the coup leaders is also illegal including calling elections and installing themselves into positions of governance.   

[peter14]

The thai save face..  when the first bullet will.be fire. The Democracy will win

[cmarshall]

5 hours ago, Why Me said:

Maybe I am wrong but not that easy. Given that the economy is in the toilet, the junta is despised as are some others who cannot be named, powers that be will be wary of doing something stupid near a powder keg.

Growth in the Thai economy has slowed, but is still positive and therefore far from "toilet" territory.  

 

[bander]

7 hours ago, Donutz said:

In Thailand the rule of law is not applied equally. Prayut is special, he means well, soon, very soon he will return happiness to the people, he just needs a little more time. The powers that be have their... uh, the nations best interest at heart. Really!  ????

He is special, but not as a politician. Nobody can stop the people from rally against him as PM, they know the voting was rigged in his favor.

He did not earn his title as PM, it's bought from the uneducated farmers and non employees who give they're vote to the highest bidder. 

 

[bander]

10 minutes ago, peter14 said:

The thai save face..  when the first bullet will.be fire. The Democracy will win

What democracy, the junta have ruled since the coupe, and before that it was army controlled with Taksin and Yingluck as their puppies. 

[Yinn]

52 minutes ago, Black arab said:

I was surprised to learn that 25%of the esaan village i live in voted for prayuts party.

Who count the vote?

 

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1105992/Thai-election-2019-results-update-Thailand-president-delay-ballot-count-corruption-claims

[FarFlungFalang]

12 minutes ago, cmarshall said:

Growth in the Thai economy has slowed, but is still positive and therefore far from "toilet" territory.  

 

That graph definitely makes it look like it's heading for and pretty close to the toilet.

[FarFlungFalang]

3 minutes ago, Yinn said:

Who count the vote?

 

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1105992/Thai-election-2019-results-update-Thailand-president-delay-ballot-count-corruption-claims

I'm guessing the Trictator and his lackeys counted the vote hence the term "Democracy Thai style"!

[Grusa]

6 hours ago, GinBoy2 said:

Well any of us that have enough history in Thailand, time to roll the eyes, and mutter "here we go again"

 

I would like to believe that this time is might be different, but age tends to make you think history really does repeat itself.

 

It's only a matter of time until they throw a Lese Majeste charge at Thanathorn. They've already said he was trying to turn the young against the institution of the Monarchy.

 

That and Computer Crime are the catch all to silence any opposition.

 

Maybe we should run a book here on how long it gonna take?

Gambling Is also illegal, including online. So is incitement to commit a crime. Go to jail, do not pass go, do  not collect 200.

Edited December 16, 2019 by Grusa

[BobbyL]

Despite the 'return of democracy' to Thailand (I use that term very very loosely), expressing an opinion and freedom of speech are still very much banned here it seems. 

[madmitch]

Future Forward did less well in the south of Thailand where many people are of the belief that a vote for anyone other than the military backed parties was a vote for Thaksin! My GF's friends were amazed when she staed she was voting for FF.

 

One day thet will realise that the current lot are more corrupt than Thaksin and his cronies ever were. The difference is that the "backing" won't allow quite so much get into the open.

[Burma Bill]

To the pro-military Government and "establishment - do not forget the popular FFP gained 7 million votes nationwide, came third in the election and many who could take to the streets again! 

[BobinBKK]

6 hours ago, GinBoy2 said:

If your number of posts suggest you're a newbie, and  maybe don't realize how docile the majority of the Thai population is.

 

A large majority are poorly educated, and even in the best of times struggle just to make ends meet, let alone worrying about freedom of expression and notions of true democracy.

 

Thaksin appealed that underclass, by basically gaming the system and giving them stuff they really needed like health care, which allowed him to go off to pursue his other self serving interests. Thats why they still love him.

 

Thanathorn is a different creature. He's trying to mobilize the younger, next generation. The problem with that is however, that the younger generation outside of the metropolitan areas will, with their sub standard education fall back into the rut or simply trying to make a living to eat.

 

I have no idea how this resolves itself

 

We all know the truth why the majority of these wonderful people are kept poorly educated. Knowledge is power and if you want to stay in power you can't let your opposition think for itself and have a mind of there own. If you remember the Sci-Fi classic The Time Machine, there is a similarity of "Eloi"  "Morlock" society here.

[NanLaew]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Senator Somchai Sawangkarn also posted a message on his Facebook account stating that the rally was illegal as the Public Assembly Act requires organisers to notify the event in advance, and prohibits the assembly from taking place within a 150-metre radius of the palace.

Somebody should apprise Somchai of the precise location of this protest gathering. It was mainly west of the Skywalk which itself is about 270 m from Sa Pathum Palace.

 

Consider that button well pushed by Thanathorn.

[mikebell]

7 hours ago, RotMahKid said:

It's time that the people organize them self, without any political party and hold sit down in the city.

It does not take much people to block the traffic, so with many people you can block strategic places easy.  If you can come with so many people to the sky walk, then you also can do this!

Agreed but to do this you need to organise & publicise.  THEN you get hit with the charge of not seeking a permit.

[Yadon Toploy]

18 minutes ago, BobinBKK said:

We all know the truth why the majority of these wonderful people are kept poorly educated. Knowledge is power and if you want to stay in power you can't let your opposition think for itself and have a mind of there own. If you remember the Sci-Fi classic The Time Machine, there is a similarity of "Eloi"  "Morlock" society here.

 

It's uncanny.

[Yadon Toploy]

2 hours ago, Enoon said:

 

If the problem is attainment of a Modern, Liberal Democracy, the solution is very much more than "tricky".

 

And a lot more problematic for expats than visas, health insurance or the price of imported steak.

 

Vietnam: 30 years of independence/civil war.

Laos: 16 years of civil war.

Cambodia: Civil war and as many as 2 million genocide deaths.

Burma: Over 50 years facing multiple independence/insurgent groups and engaging in genocide/ethnic cleansing.

 

All "Buddhist" countries.

 

But the lotus eating expat population of Thailand carries on munching the flowers, blissfully confident that it could "never happen here".

 

This is the "New Era".

 

 

 

Indeed, and it is important to note that the Thais were involved and benefited from each one of those conflicts in neighbouring countries.

 

 

[sead]

The Asian version of Arab spring? Does it start here also

Edited December 16, 2019 by sead

[kiwikeith]

10 hours ago, Donutz said:

But general Prayut keeps insisting that Thailand is definitely a 'Thai style' democracy and not a dictatorship. He gets very cross when people say otherwise. Though it must be said that the general is quick to be angered. 

If he insists that LOS is a democracy then no action should take place.

If he takes action, then the action may fuel the fire.

Up to him.

[from the home of CC]

5 hours ago, Yinn said:

Maybe, but then normal people can not work, lose money. 

Hurt the people more than hurt the “government”. 

Exactly. All these people who suggest the Thais go to the streets I guess are going to raise the funds to pay for the food for the family table and pay for the school uniforms. Typical expat thinking...

[Longcut]

11 hours ago, Donutz said:

But general Prayut keeps insisting that Thailand is definitely a 'Thai style' democracy and not a dictatorship. He gets very cross when people say otherwise. Though it must be said that the general is quick to be angered. 

But, no freedom of assembly!

When will the Thai people ever learn? 

[justin case]

nothing will change as long as people are brainwashed since birth to believe & adore this & that without questions

[Sonhia]

No surprise.

 

Thai are so predictable. Fickle. 

 

Yet another coup possibly on the way? How many will that make since the military forced the previous King to abdicate during the 1930s.

 

 

[ParkerN]

11 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Here we go; and so it starts. How can any counter be illegal when the country was illegally taken? Suggest holding up middle finger instead of the three.

And so it starts indeed. It seems to me that the police and the senate members would do well to learn how to stf up.

 

Not the Thai way though, pooyays are more-or-less expected to have a big mouth and a tiny little brain and many of them seem intent on demonstrating both.

Edited December 16, 2019 by ParkerN

[dallen52]

9 hours ago, GinBoy2 said:

Well any of us that have enough history in Thailand, time to roll the eyes, and mutter "here we go again"

 

I would like to believe that this time is might be different, but age tends to make you think history really does repeat itself.

 

It's only a matter of time until they throw a Lese Majeste charge at Thanathorn. They've already said he was trying to turn the young against the institution of the Monarchy.

 

That and Computer Crime are the catch all to silence any opposition.

 

Maybe we should run a book here on how long it gonna take?

Its simmering away.

 

Get away from the big smoke and hear what local people are saying. 

 

When certain individuals wealth is reported to now be 60 billion Us $.

Plus taking control of several military divisions. 

And looking at the placement of the 150 APVs being purchased near Chachongsao. 

One can start to get the impression that something is going on!!!

 

If one of the new submarines is based in the river close to city central,  

Or a new attack helicopter on the roof somewhere...

 

Watch this space...

[Yadon Toploy]

1 hour ago, from the home of CC said:

Exactly. All these people who suggest the Thais go to the streets I guess are going to raise the funds to pay for the food for the family table and pay for the school uniforms. Typical expat thinking...

The protest organisers should give them a daily stipend of 500thb or so.

 

Oh wait...

[spiekerjozef]

This is the exact reason why the thai people fight for their democracy.

[ParkerN]

25 minutes ago, dallen52 said:

Its simmering away.

 

Get away from the big smoke and hear what local people are saying. 

 

When certain individuals wealth is reported to now be 60 billion Us $.

Plus taking control of several military divisions. 

And looking at the placement of the 150 APVs being purchased near Chachongsao. 

One can start to get the impression that something is going on!!!

 

If one of the new submarines is based in the river close to city central,  

Or a new attack helicopter on the roof somewhere...

 

Watch this space...

Something is definitely been going on and has been for some time. It must be very uncomfortable for someone like Prayut to have an obsolescence date painted on his back. And there he was, hoping for a Nelson Mandela biography.

 

I think perhaps that, notwithstanding the inertial mass of the average Thai, there are quite a lot of things in the process of unravelling, and I'd be very cautious about my own back while painting things on someone else's... A very few more years of falling economic prospects; given the legendary Thai love of money, that's what (is all) it will take.fot the TAT to be forced to offer 'Get back to the Stone-Age vacations in the Thai mountains'. Of course, they'll be newer for some than others.