I can't get this image of benigno aquino of the philippines coming down the airplane ramp in manila in the mid eighties out of my head.

3 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

My prediction is that he will either spend only a short time in jail, or, possibly, none at all. 

 

1 hour ago, Thailand said:

If Thaksin is actually coming back then it is highly likely a deal has been done at the highest level.

Agree totally.

He doesn't have the spunk of a rabbit.

A pre-arranged deal to keep him out of the slammer or he wouldn't dare set foot in Thailand.

Shouldn't that be the Brown Shirts From Bangkok?

5 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Don Mueang airport isn't in Korat!

Sybil Fawlty ... Mastermind... Specialist Subject .... the Bleedin' obvious ....

Assume yellow shirted AOT maintenance personnel assigned to make adjustments to moving walkways early hours on Aug 10.

Coming back to sleep in the same bed as the military. Not in exile. Not a fugitive. A TRAITOR.

20 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Shouldn't that be the Brown Shirts From Bangkok?

LOL. Are you suggesting that they didn't have the guts for brown shirts, so they picked red as a poor-man's brown instead? Anyhow, at least the 'black shirts' were wearing ϟϟ colours...

  I hope for the umpteenth time he, once again, fails to return after, once again, promising to, leaving the greeting party with nobody to greet.

14 minutes ago, newnative said:

  I hope for the umpteenth time he, once again, fails to return after, once again, promising to, leaving the greeting party with nobody to greet.

He's coming back. A deal has been done. MFP are gone. PTP now sleeps with the enemy. The military retain control. A coup without a coup. They (the military) win again even though they lost. The people of Thailand have been bertayed. 

6 hours ago, steven100 said:

I think i'm going to throw up ...  ????

The perfect plan is unfolding, Machiavelli couldn't have done it better. It's unfortunate but I can't help but admire the establishments machinery, it runs like clockwork. Democracy has a lot to learn, they'll get there eventually but not with naive wishful thinkers, a cold calculating heart with a court of idealists on the periphery to keep that heart from freezing is required.

He will not return unless he will not be arrested locked up on arrival.The party is dreaming still with the sister too if they want to return.They did escape justice as everyone knows.If they stayed they would have being being free by now instead it still waits for them

7 hours ago, steven100 said:

I think i'm going to throw up ...  ????

Pass the sick bag Alice. 

Hey PT leaders, you swore you would never join with the junta uncles. So Pravit is not joining right?

5 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

RTP and Immigration officers should have a transport van waiting as soon as the plane taxis to the gate and as it stops board the plane and arrest him on the spot before he gets feet dry inside the terminal.

There will be a plan in place to switch the oncoming flight from DMK to SUW if the Red Shirt horde is perceived to be a problem. Perhaps the RS plan to crown both airports?

6 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

No, no, no, they want democracy!    That is what they have "fought tirelessly" for... ????

Haven't they always fought for elections and elected government? 

So now It's their fault if Pita cannot become PM, not the Junta's Senate?

3 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

Because the red shirts (the subject of the discussion) are saying they are supporters of and fighters for democracy, when clearly they want something else.  Their being the same as the previous government is exactly the point.

And it is exactly a false equivalence.

3 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

You are talking about the whole current (almost outgoing) government there.

Why pick on just one person?

At least Thaksin did something for the poor people in Thailand.

All (military) governments since then have just been lining the pockets of the rich.

The Pheu Thai and its red shirt paramilitary campaigned under the banner of democracy -  ow they are fighting against it for their own ends - enough said I hope shinawatra ends up in the jail cell next to Prawit - they’re both as bad!!!

2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

555 

Is there still anybody out there who believes that?

 

Never forget!

The military opened fire on the red shirts, killing scores. If you were being shot, killed and no way to fight back, what would you do? A fact then, a fact now. The T mans real crime, if an expat, was unleashing the genie of populist nationalism. Blaming western banks, read 'Farangs', for deliberately causing the 97 economic collapse. BTW all parties; red, yellow, or green, believe that now, it is become part of Thai populist history, as Thais can never be blamed for such things. 

Time to stock up on Booze & Bud. The T man just might have an act II.

5 hours ago, VillageIdiot said:

...or an example of Karl Marx's perceptive observation that "History repeats itself first as tragedy then as farce."

Sadly, these people never learn,...not from there history nor other country's history's,...

3 minutes ago, bizboi said:

The Pheu Thai and its red shirt paramilitary campaigned under the banner of democracy -  ow they are fighting against it for their own ends - enough said I hope shinawatra ends up in the jail cell next to Prawit - they’re both as bad!!!

When did the red-shirt protest against Pita?

2 minutes ago, Dcheech said:

The military opened fire on the red shirts, killing scores.

They did that after they told the red-shirts to leave the city in peace. Free busses were waiting to bring the crowds home. They could have just gone home and live another day.

They didn't. Their problem. 

2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

555 

Is there still anybody out there who believes that?

 

Never forget!

 

Maybe they were a bit angry after being massacred by the army?

10 minutes ago, candide said:

Haven't they always fought for elections and elected government?

If they cared about elections and elected government, wouldn't they be fighting for such a thing now?

 

MFP got a majority and Pita should be PM. The fact that they are ok with this not happening because Thaksin can come back shows exactly what they care about.

 

10 minutes ago, candide said:

So now It's their fault if Pita cannot become PM, not the Junta's Senate?

Not even close to what I have said.

11 minutes ago, candide said:

And it is exactly a false equivalence.

What equivalence do you think I am I making, false or otherwise?

 

I'm saying they are being dishonest, claiming they want democracy then clearly showing they aren't so bothered by it if it means they get what they want.

7 hours ago, steven100 said:

I think i'm going to throw up ...  ????

I was speaking to a Thai friend yesterday, he's happy as hell at Thaksin returning.

He said when Thaksin was PM money was all around, people were happy and the country was in a much better state than it is now.

Yes he was a rogue but one that shared the wealth around.

He's not alone in his thinking... 

I'm  just an expat sitting on the fence listening to all sides.

1 minute ago, BangkokReady said:

What equivalence do you think I am I making, false or otherwise?

 

I'm saying they are being dishonest, claiming they want democracy then clearly showing they aren't so bothered by it if it means they get what they want.

Ok, they don't seem to bother much, for now. However, it doesn't cancel the fact that they always fought for elections and elected government. So they are not equivalent to the Junta and the yellow shirts.

10 minutes ago, candide said:

However, it doesn't cancel the fact that they always fought for elections and elected government.

If they stop fighting for democracy once democracy doesn't get them the result they want, were they ever really fighting for democracy?

Is this about Waksin Shinawat? Forget Bill Gates! Pheu Kray?

24 minutes ago, candide said:

Maybe they were a bit angry after being massacred by the army?

They started the mayhem before the army arrived.

And the tomato police didn't do anything.

3 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

If they stop fighting for democracy once democracy doesn't get them the result they want, were they ever really fighting for democracy?

It's a flaw in this so-called democratic system, IMO. I wanted the PM to come from the MFP, but they couldn't form a big-enough coalition. Until they strip un-elected senators of voting power, what are you gonna do? Next man (party) up. They need a government. 

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

He's coming back. A deal has been done. MFP are gone. PTP now sleeps with the enemy. The military retain control. A coup without a coup. They (the military) win again even though they lost. The people of Thailand have been bertayed. 

AGAIN AND AGAIN!!!