Police deployed in Ratchaprasong area amid planned protest, warn against ‘illegal’ assembly after 5pm

[Surelynot]

Sat watching Wednesday's demo and my (Thai) wife and she said..."See all those in yellow shirts? Everyone of them is a soldier or a policeman....just look at their haircuts".

 

She said all the Thais were talking about it in social media.

Edited October 15, 2020 by Surelynot

[brewsterbudgen]

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

Now it's raining and with their dispersal it will be a welcome relief.

They have had a good day.  Back to school tomorrow. 

I just walked through it and there is no rain and no sign of dispersal.  Not quite like Hong Kong (yet) but so good to see.

[sammieuk1]

Live coverage here ????????

????

[samsensam]

17 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

Sat watching Wednesday's demo and my (Thai) wife and she said..."See all those in yellow shirts? Everyone of them is a soldier or a policeman....just look at their haircuts".

 

She said all the Thais were talking about it in social media.

 

i recall before the pandemic i was walking past some national celebration where they had the public volunteers in their yellow shirts and blue neckerchiefs lining streets and generally being everywhere in a national show of public love for whoever... when it struck me; they were all young males with the same haircut, not members of the public at all but, most probably, soldiers.

[Donutz]

3 hours ago, rkidlad said:

if the illegal government doesn't want violence, then they shouldn't be violent. 

 

The students are exercising their rights under a draconian constitution. They're playing by the rigged rules and still the dinosaurs can't win. 

I agree 100%. This corrupt government that came into power via crooked and illegal means need to go. The youth -and many other Thai-  are tired of it, they want proper democracy. Enough is enough. 

Edited October 15, 2020 by Donutz

[MikeN]

Well, if it’s live on YouTube they better be careful how they break it up ! The police are certainly going to need quite a few trucks if they arrest everyone.

[anchadian]

17 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

Live coverage here ????????

????

It looks like there are more than five people gathering and what about social distancing?

[Rookiescot]

38 minutes ago, John Drake said:

Conversely, these events may provide the tipping point against China's stealth subjugation of Thailand.

That is a fact. One thing you can say about Thais is that they are fiercely patriotic and believe the universe orbits Thailand.

This has been installed in them from birth.

If they start to think that China is calling the shots here then no army or police will be able to save the government.  

[DrTuner]

40 minutes ago, AndyFoxy said:

So what are you doing, apart from posting on the forum?

All foreigners can do is to make sure the 1,000,000 Gigawatt spotlight on the usurpers by the western media stays on and keeps the protestors safe.

Edited October 15, 2020 by DrTuner

[DrTuner]

2 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

That is a fact. One thing you can say about Thais is that they are fiercely patriotic and believe the universe orbits Thailand.

This has been installed in them from birth.

If they start to think that China is calling the shots here then no army or police will be able to save the government.  

We'll see. There's plenty of Chai-Thainese that are ready to let the motherland in. So far they've been running this show.

[spidermike007]

30 minutes ago, AndyFoxy said:

Your past has nothing to do with it. So you’re out there on the streets protesting with the youth of Thailand? Or are you just supporting them from behind? As you urge them forward and the bullets fly, where will you be?

There will be few bullets, if any. From a historical perspective, the Thai army has no moral authority backing it, like it did in the past. That makes a huge difference to the people. If there is enough resistance from the masses, the army rule will collapse like a deck of cards. Hopefully. 

[Bangkok Barry]

5 hours ago, Golden Triangle said:

When I read the news this morning my first thought was ' The protestors are winning this & the Dinosaurs are running scared.

 

More power to the youngun's elbows. 

How do you think they are winning? How are they going to overthrow a military-backed government? Serious question, because I can't see how it is possible.

[John Drake]

13 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

That is a fact. One thing you can say about Thais is that they are fiercely patriotic and believe the universe orbits Thailand.

This has been installed in them from birth.

If they start to think that China is calling the shots here then no army or police will be able to save the government.  

In 1849 the Austrian emperor brought in Russian troops to put down the rebellion in Hungary. Hungarians have never forgotten or forgiven. 

[polpott]

4 hours ago, steven100 said:

If the students don't heed the warnings then it's their fault if dispersal is imminent.

They were peaceful until now and they did good, but they are pushing and breaking the law so the RTP and government will say that's it  .... enough of this.  The last thing Thailand needs right now is violent protestors.  No tourists will ever come, not that they can ... lol

The RTP don't want to be involved. They are tacitly on the side of the demonstrators, 3 RTP seniors were dismissed yesterday......for a reason.

 

There won't be any trouble until the army replace the police and even then I'm not sure which way they will swing.

 

I think your hero is at end of days.

 

 

Edited October 15, 2020 by polpott

[Rookiescot]

12 minutes ago, DrTuner said:

We'll see. There's plenty of Chai-Thainese that are ready to let the motherland in. So far they've been running this show.

I agree. And they get away with it because the vast majority of Thais do not care so long as they have enough to meet their daily needs.

However if those Thais believed that the sovereignty of Thailand was under threat there will be no stopping them.

[ThailandRyan]

Steven, Steven, Steven.  Listen to yourself.  There is no way the police are going to move 20,000 protestors, and no way they can arrest them all.  Unless the military rolls the tanks down the road, and we have another China style Tiananmen square incident they will continue.  The Government is scared right now.  They have already fired the top three police commanders in charge of yesterdays event at Government House, and there will be many more defections away from the Government by folks who are starting to really see the injustices as they rack up.  Be prepared for the Military to roll into town and take up checkpoints like in 2014.  It would not surprise me if there truly is another coup in the making.

Edited October 15, 2020 by ThailandRyan

[Brunolem]

7 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

If there is enough resistance from the masses, the army rule will collapse like a deck of cards. Hopefully. 

And then what? Anarchy?

These students have no leaders, no people ready to replace the actual government.

 

Assuming that free elections were held, they would bring back the old cohort of Thaksin cronies, because they are still the most popular where it matters

 

Would Thailand be better off with such a government?

[ThailandRyan]

1 minute ago, Brunolem said:

And then what? Anarchy?

These students have no leaders, no people ready to replace the actual government.

 

Assuming that free elections were held, they would bring back the old cohort of Thaksin cronies, because they are still the most popular where it matters

 

Would Thailand be better off with such a government?

The leaders are just waiting in the wings to step forward after the groundwork is laid.

[Brunolem]

9 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

The Government is scared right now. 

 

Be prepared for the Military to roll into town and take up checkpoints like in 2014.  It would not surprise me if there truly is another coup in the making.

Or rather, the elites behind the government are scared.

 

If they are smart, they will follow the example set by their Chinese big brother, and just control the protests without resorting to violence, until things cool down, as they have in Hong Kong...

 

Obviously the government should engage into talks, which generally helps to defuse tensions, instead of hiding in its fortress...

Edited October 15, 2020 by Brunolem

[John Drake]

3 minutes ago, Brunolem said:

Or rather, the elites behind the government are scared.

 

If they are smart, they will follow the example set by their Chinese big brother, and just control the protests without resorting to violence, until things cool down, as they have in Hong Kong...

The Chinese government ultimately brought Hong Kong under control through letting loose COVID. Surely, you're not suggesting the government here do something similar.

[metisdead]

A post using a trolling meme and a reply has been removed. 

[oldhippy]

10 minutes ago, Brunolem said:

And then what? Anarchy?

These students have no leaders, no people ready to replace the actual government.

 

Assuming that free elections were held, they would bring back the old cohort of Thaksin cronies, because they are still the most popular where it matters

 

Would Thailand be better off with such a government?

QUOTE: And then what? Anarchy?

A nice thought, but humanity is not yet ready for that, maybe in a few centuries?

 

QUOTE: Assuming that free elections were held, they would bring back the old cohort of Thaksin cronies, because they are still the most popular where it matters

Would Thailand be better off with such a government?

YES, Thailand would be better off.

And there is always a chance that FFP will be in control.

[from the home of CC]

4 hours ago, Brunolem said:

Or why don't they go study?

 

They have almost no support from the general population.

 

Why should the government institutions be changed because a small minority is asking for it?

 

The country is already in enough (economic) trouble, and certainly doesn't need a student uprising at this time.

they're puppets dancing while the 'teer is getting his escape plan cemented..

[Golden Triangle]

21 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

How do you think they are winning? How are they going to overthrow a military-backed government? Serious question, because I can't see how it is possible.

So the fact that old fatty Prawit said on Tuesday that it would only be a small demonstration and the government weren't worried in the slightest......... swiftly followed by 21 checkpoints being set up in and around Bangkok............ followed swiftly by 14000 police & military personnel  being drafted in....... swiftly followed by soldiers masquerading as yellow shirt supporters........... swiftly followed by a hastily drawn up emergency decree (on top of an existing emergency decree)............ followed up by this afternoon's demonstration with the police & or military no where to be seen......... I'd call that a win for the popular vote, you obviously see it differently.

[steven100]

37 minutes ago, polpott said:

The RTP don't want to be involved. They are tacitly on the side of the demonstrators, 3 RTP seniors were dismissed yesterday......for a reason.

 

There won't be any trouble until the army replace the police and even then I'm not sure which way they will swing.

 

I think your hero is at end of days.

 

 

lol .......   TV farang have been saying the same thing for the past 5 years. 

Khun Prayut Chan O Cha will be in charge for another 10 yrs possibly.  just imo, but who knows.  

 

 

Edited October 15, 2020 by steven100

[Isaan Alan]

3 hours ago, samsensam said:

 

effectively banning expression of free speech and rounding up protest leaders (people who voice dissent) is exactly the kind of behavior that the people are protesting about, so good response guys!

 

seeing the photos in the foreign press this protest movement is far more than a few students, there were clearly members from all thai society on the streets. the most telling photos you probably wont see in the thai press, but have a look on foreign media; unprecedented.

In Thailand the Western news media such as the BBC and CNN got blacked out with a message "program will resume shortly". Is that the old "normal" program or a new updated program? 

 

Edited October 15, 2020 by Isaan Alan

[rkidlad]

2 minutes ago, steven100 said:

lol .......   TV farang have been saying the same thing for the past 5 years. 

Khun Prayut Chan O Cha will be incharge for another 10 yrs possibly.  just imo.

There hasn't been protesting like this in the last 5 years. 

 

Now people have had enough. The seal is broken in terms of criticising that which can't be criticised. The only way they get their grip back is through a violent crackdown; and that is basically a lose lose situation. Their days are numbered and Prayut will be first to be thrown under the bus to make for any form of appeasement. But the protesters know he's not the one in charge hence they have more demands. 

[tomazbodner]

RTP nor army would get involved if opposition to protesters start attacking, injuring or killing them. Like they were on the side when the same happened before the last coup. People were getting injured and dying from grenades thrown at them at night, or random drive-by shootings.

 

There's always 2 sides. If one feels threatened by the other, there's always enough nutcases to bring up trouble. Redshirts understood that and employed around the clock armed guards. Yellowshirts didn't, which other than the reason that reds were far more violent, also meant higher fatalities on their side before the last coup.

[rkidlad]

1 minute ago, Isaan Alan said:

The foreign new media such as the BBC and CNN got blacked out with a message "program will resume shortly". Is that the old "normal" program or a new updated program? 

That's the dinosaurs and CP. They think people sit around the tele like it's the only form of media.

 

Meanwhile people actually look on their phones and see the hashtags, etc. 

[steven100]

Khun Prayut Chan O Cha has extensive support from his colleagues within the military. He has always had support from various Thai representatives as well, and not forgetting his Thai civilian support which is millions. Not everyone in Thailand agrees with protests, roadblocks, anarchy, mayhem and lawlessness and so not everyone wants problems. Thailand has enough problems with the economy as it is, so protests certainly won't go down well with many Thais.

He will be in charge for many years to come. Lets hope so.