Do You Support Another Military Coup?

[ham]

Who really cares what a bunch of farangs think about this. It's not going to change anything what you think.

- Somechai resign immediatly

- all Thaksin clan members out of government

- announcing ne PM of PPP

- Army/Police to clean up PAD protesers away from any occupied place

- Thai people get informed what's all about the PAD philosophie

- Chamlong in jail

- Thaksin in jail and life-long term out of politics in exchange with maybe a royal pardon and paying tax to the country (he confound politics with business, like so many politician in the west and other countrys around the globe)

- go ahead with the build up a democratic state

- be a state for "the free" (Thai)

[PeaceBlondie]

It is clear that the Thai people can't handle democracy and these idiots in their yellow shirts have crippled this country maybe for many years to come. However, the ineptitude of the army doesn't offer much of a solution. I see Thailand only going downhill from here as it's formerly poorer neighbours get richer and leave it in the dust.

The population is easily led fy a few ringleaders who want the rich poor divide to remain big.

A coup wouldn't help.

I do not always agree with my fellow Texan but I agree the Thais cannot handle democracy. The idiots in the yellow shirts have crippled this country. However, I am happy to see that the generals here are wise enough to disobey orders from the other idiots in the red shirts. God, I hate to vote for coups. But if it is like the last one, bring it on. Much better than bringing worse mayhem and chaos and bloodshed. This time, however, the army has waited too long and may shed some blood. They at least should have struck by the time Somchai's plane landed in Peru.

[h90]

Who really cares what a bunch of farangs think about this. It's not going to change anything what you think.

- Somechai resign immediatly

- all Thaksin clan members out of government

- announcing ne PM of PPP

- Army/Police to clean up PAD protesers away from any occupied place

- Thai people get informed what's all about the PAD philosophie

- Chamlong in jail

- Thaksin in jail and life-long term out of politics in exchange with maybe a royal pardon and paying tax to the country (he confound politics with business, like so many politician in the west and other countrys around the globe)

- go ahead with the build up a democratic state

- be a state for "the free" (Thai)

After Somchai resigned and Thaksin is out of politic PAD goes home.

Chamlong will be celebrated as hero who safe the nation the third time. But you can also put him in jail, he does not care much.

[Ulysses G.]

The idiots in the yellow shirts have crippled this country. However, I am happy to see that the generals here are wise enough to disobey orders from the other idiots in the red shirts.

The idiots in the yellow shirts would fire them if they started obeying orders from the idiots in red shirts.

[Thailand]

After Somchai resigned and Thaksin is out of politic PAD goes home.

Chamlong will be celebrated as hero who safe the nation the third time. But you can also put him in jail, he does not care much.

You think he will be a hero to all the people who will lose their jobs because of the unlawful actions of his party?

[mrtoad]

Why do people still insist the current government was elected by a majority? Sure, the PPP got more votes than the other parties but that is because they BOUGHT the votes in Isaan! Until this country finds a way to block vote buying, new elections are not the solution -- the results will be the same.

Maybe a coup and another period of military rule will give the country time to insure truly free elections.

Do you try to tell me that the PAD did not try to buy votes? Sure they did, they offered my GF 300B to vote for them! The people have to stop wanting money and then it might be a fair election here... Its all about money!

Which election did they stand in?

Can't remeber seeing them as a party the last time.

[Heng]

They need to outlaw all other parties other than the Democrats. That's the only way they are going to win any election. What's the point of calling for new elections every five minutes when they already know the results?

[jasreeve17]

Who really cares what a bunch of farangs think about this. It's not going to change anything what you think.

- Somechai resign immediatly

- all Thaksin clan members out of government

- announcing ne PM of PPP

- Army/Police to clean up PAD protesers away from any occupied place

- Thai people get informed what's all about the PAD philosophie

- Chamlong in jail

- Thaksin in jail and life-long term out of politics in exchange with maybe a royal pardon and paying tax to the country (he confound politics with business, like so many politician in the west and other countrys around the globe)

- go ahead with the build up a democratic state

- be a state for "the free" (Thai)

After Somchai resigned and Thaksin is out of politic PAD goes home.

Chamlong will be celebrated as hero who safe the nation the third time. But you can also put him in jail, he does not care much.

Why does one small group have the right to ignore the wish (and votes) of the masses? MrT won many elections and, no doubt, would continue to do so.

You tried to make the matter a simple one - Mr T is bad, PAD is good, PAD save us from MrT. But, the majority of Thais disagree with you and PAD. I always look at the leaders of an organization to (help to) tell me what it's about; the German socialist workers party / Hitler, not good. Black Panthers / Malcolm X, not good. Social reformers / Dr King, good. Indian social reformers / Gandhi, good. PAD / Sondhi, oh dear - how can you support that man? PPP / MrT, not good too.

Who gives you, and your tiny group, the right to ignore everyone else and terrorize the parliament and international airports?

But, it's actually much deeper than your basic principles of; MrT is bad. It's a power struggle between various groups of rich (and currupt) politicians, businessmen and others. None of these groups give a toss about the 60 million Thai populous, the difference being that MrT gave a little (very little compared to what he stole) back and the people appreciate that because they'd never got anything in the past from any other government (who just stole). If PAD get their way it's back with the old ways. The Thai people are the biggest losers in that eventuality, and they know it, hence why PAD has very tiny support nationwide (small and dwindling support in their Bangkok stronghold).

Knowing this, the PAD leaders are desperate to force a violent outcome, and become increasingly aggressive - many PAD supporters have already dwindled away this week. It's a shame that this lunatic Sondhi is given a free rein by those behind him to do as he wishes. A shame, but nothing new, as can be seen when f you look back at the 60's, 70's... where these same people allowed Thais to be mass murdered...

You'd hope with education and hindsight the Thais would move forward, but the very people who should be at the forefront of this conscious movement are being manipulated by the PAD. It's sad to see.

[jasreeve17]

They need to outlaw all other parties other than the Democrats. That's the only way they are going to win any election. What's the point of calling for new elections every five minutes when they already know the results?

Actually, you're spot on Heng, and that's exactly what they have been trying and are trying to do, along with throwing in some constituational changes and manipulating the law makers (which all sides like to do...).

Last time they stacked the cards heavily in the Dems favour, and the Dems still lost.

Now, they want to force another coup, stack the cards even higher (ban even more PPP mp's and parties. A few more constitutional changes - 'it's anti-Thai not to vote for the Dems') and try again. If they do achieve the result they want (Dems in power) then they'll block all the coutryside with tanks, break up any non-Dem party meetings and claim that they've won by a landslide now that MrT's corruption has been dealt with. In fact in their rewritten future history, I don't that MrT would ever have got a single vote without paying for it.

They hope to wear away the will of the Thai people. Is that possible?

[wayfarer108]

Everyone knows that the Army support the PAD so they refuse to prevent them from actions such as blocking main roads and taking over the airport, but Thaksin's boys feel that they are the legal government and keep winning elections, but get forced out of power illegally and they are sick of it.

Neither side is going to back down and the only person who could stop it seems to have taken sides as well.

Another coup is going to make Thailand look silly as heck, but it could save a little bit of the tourist season and prevent a civil war for the time being.

Is another coup worth it?

They've not been forced out of power illegally. It's been through protest and the courts. And no successful coup has yet been declared illegal by anyone in Thailand.

[QED]

Why do people still insist the current government was elected by a majority? Sure, the PPP got more votes than the other parties but that is because they BOUGHT the votes in Isaan! Until this country finds a way to block vote buying, new elections are not the solution -- the results will be the same.

Maybe a coup and another period of military rule will give the country time to insure truly free elections.

Do you try to tell me that the PAD did not try to buy votes? Sure they did, they offered my GF 300B to vote for them!

The people have to stop wanting money and then it might be a fair election here... Its all about money!

You made my way......

What fools the PAD are....offering money for the vote even they aren't a Party and can't be voted for

To add: most probably another paid poster who did not read his script carefully

Beat me to it. I am surprised muppets like this are allowed to post on here.

From a purely selfish point of view, Thai politics has very little (if no) impact on my life here, I was here for the last coup and I am sure I will be here for the next. My major concern is Thaksin coming back and making life very difficult for us Brit expats due to his visa withdrawal, he has already hinted that this will be high on his agenda as he feels he has 'lost face'.

I take no sides on this as I think the PAD (and dems) and PPP (and UDD) are just about as bad as each other, but I vote yes for a coup - bad for Thailand but good for Brit expats.

Let the games begin

[h90]

After Somchai resigned and Thaksin is out of politic PAD goes home.

Chamlong will be celebrated as hero who safe the nation the third time. But you can also put him in jail, he does not care much.

You think he will be a hero to all the people who will lose their jobs because of the unlawful actions of his party?

he doesn't has a party anymore since many years.

[Crushdepth]

I don't support a coup. But it's interesting to see the numbers change - three months ago in a similar poll the figures were roughly the other way around.

I think the PM should resign or be sacked for total incompetence by his own party as would happen in any other democratic country. But the only way out of this is another election - and it has to be a clean one this time so there are no arguments about the result.

Frankly, I suspect the Peanut Power Party could win without cheating and without clinging to convicted ex-party members. Why they feel the need to fiddle with the election process is beyond me. By doing so they have destroyed their own mandate.

Edited November 27, 2008 by Crushdepth

[jasreeve17]

Why do people still insist the current government was elected by a majority? Sure, the PPP got more votes than the other parties but that is because they BOUGHT the votes in Isaan! Until this country finds a way to block vote buying, new elections are not the solution -- the results will be the same.

Maybe a coup and another period of military rule will give the country time to insure truly free elections.

Do you try to tell me that the PAD did not try to buy votes? Sure they did, they offered my GF 300B to vote for them!

The people have to stop wanting money and then it might be a fair election here... Its all about money!

You made my way......

What fools the PAD are....offering money for the vote even they aren't a Party and can't be voted for

To add: most probably another paid poster who did not read his script carefully

Beat me to it. I am surprised muppets like this are allowed to post on here.

From a purely selfish point of view, Thai politics has very little (if no) impact on my life here, I was here for the last coup and I am sure I will be here for the next. My major concern is Thaksin coming back and making life very difficult for us Brit expats due to his visa withdrawal, he has already hinted that this will be high on his agenda as he feels he has 'lost face'.

I take no sides on this as I think the PAD (and dems) and PPP (and UDD) are just about as bad as each other, but I vote yes for a coup - bad for Thailand but good for Brit expats.

Let the games begin

Honesty is a virtue. I prefer a tougher time personally, if, in time, 60 million people benefit.

MrT is an ego-maniac, and I also worry what he has in store for us (I'm a Brit expat too) - 1,000 lined up dead British bodies with yabba pills in our left pockets and child porno mags in our right pockets... (to the glory of the Thai police). Perhaps a new line in the national anthem; Thailand is for Thai people (and especially not British)...

[bravingbangkok]

I don't support a coup, but I think it would be better if the army forces the government to resign.

Considering that walking in with guns and forcing the signature is nothing different from a coup I voted with yes.

That is a coup. Don't you mean you don't support a bloody coup ?

The army involved in politics!! that's not democracy. The army is not doing it's job and the generals should be charged with treason, simple.

No it is not you are right but it is Thailands form of democracy and it has always worked.

[jasreeve17]

I don't support a coup. But it's interesting to see the numbers change - three months ago in a similar poll the figures were roughly the other way around.

I think the PM should resign or be sacked for total incompetence by his own party as would happen in any other democratic country. But the only way out of this is another election - and it has to be a clean one this time so there are no arguments about the result.

Frankly, I suspect the Peanut Power Party could win without cheating and without clinging to convicted ex-party members. Why they feel the need to fiddle with the election process is beyond me. By doing so they have destroyed their own mandate.

The problem being that the army won't let in any neutral observers because then if the PPP (QQQ, RRR) won again they'd have a harder time getting them out.

If they'd let the observers in last time, as requested, we'd probably not be in such a mess.

[Jingthing]

I reckon a coup within the next few days to a week is highly probable. I favor it if it is the only way to prevent massive bloodshed, and that appears to be the case. If (when?) there is a coup, I don't see why there would any problem breaking up the PAD airports occupation, wouldn't just providing transport do the trick? The primary goal of PAD is to remove the current government and they can call a coup that does so a victory.

Edited November 27, 2008 by Jingthing

[Mosha]

Could be sooner. My wise has just said it was on the idiot box. The red shirts are on the way to confront the PAD and also the red shirts are threatening to blockade the army barracks. Meanwhile she says the Kasikorn pitches in with don't buy anything from any one wearing yellow.

[Amir]

Regardless from who's right or not, who's good or bad... If Somchai resigns or is removed with a Coup, would mean that there are no more laws applied in Thailand... Not good in the eyes of watching countries.

[onnut]

A Coup is not what Thailand needs; I certainly don’t want another one happening.

What Thailand needs is for the armed forces to do what they are supposed to do and listen to what the government want them to do, and that is take control of the airports.

There must be a way that the army can take control without too much damage and casualties.

[Mosha]

The Royal Thai Armed Forces, that should tell you something.

[samiinjapan]

I FULLY SUPPORT MILITARY COUP

CAN`T WAIT FOR IT

SOONER BETTER

[britmaveric]

Better if the police/army squash the PAD and send them packing. Holding a country hostage by a small minority is simply wrong and should be stamped down. If you want to protest do so, but you've crossed the line when you enter govt buildings and international airports.

[snowflake]

Why do people still insist the current government was elected by a majority? Sure, the PPP got more votes than the other parties but that is because they BOUGHT the votes in Isaan! Until this country finds a way to block vote buying, new elections are not the solution -- the results will be the same.

Maybe a coup and another period of military rule will give the country time to insure truly free elections.

Do you try to tell me that the PAD did not try to buy votes? Sure they did, they offered my GF 300B to vote for them! The people have to stop wanting money and then it might be a fair election here... Its all about money!

Which election did they stand in?

Can't remeber seeing them as a party the last time.

Sure they were not a party at that time but the founders, the people with the money behind PAD were in the politics that time. They did lose... I am sorry if I explained myself wrongly...

[JimsKnight]

Why do people still insist the current government was elected by a majority? Sure, the PPP got more votes than the other parties but that is because they BOUGHT the votes in Isaan! Until this country finds a way to block vote buying, new elections are not the solution -- the results will be the same.

Maybe a coup and another period of military rule will give the country time to insure truly free elections.

Do you try to tell me that the PAD did not try to buy votes? Sure they did, they offered my GF 300B to vote for them!

The people have to stop wanting money and then it might be a fair election here... Its all about money!

You made my way......

What fools the PAD are....offering money for the vote even they aren't a Party and can't be voted for

To add: most probably another paid poster who did not read his script carefully

Beat me to it. I am surprised muppets like this are allowed to post on here.

From a purely selfish point of view, Thai politics has very little (if no) impact on my life here, I was here for the last coup and I am sure I will be here for the next. My major concern is Thaksin coming back and making life very difficult for us Brit expats due to his visa withdrawal, he has already hinted that this will be high on his agenda as he feels he has 'lost face'.

I take no sides on this as I think the PAD (and dems) and PPP (and UDD) are just about as bad as each other, but I vote yes for a coup - bad for Thailand but good for Brit expats.

Let the games begin

My sentiments exactly, I can recall the first of the Toxin Mans measures am very concerned of what he'll do (to expats) if he comes back.

[seri thai]

I don't support a coup, but I think it would be better if the army forces the government to resign.

Considering that walking in with guns and forcing the signature is nothing different from a coup I voted with yes.

That is a coup. Don't you mean you don't support a bloody coup ?

The army involved in politics!! that's not democracy. The army is not doing it's job and the generals should be charged with treason, simple.

No it is not you are right but it is Thailands form of democracy and it has always worked.

Couldn't have put it better myself, PAd's policy and raison d'etre

[Ricardo]

The only acceptable reason, for another coup now, would be to defuse the current situation & avoid more blood on the streets. Get the PAD off home, get the country running again, makes sense to me.

It would thus buy time for a political solution, perhaps if the PM & PPP were not totally-focused on ramming through constitutional-change for the benefit of their patron, they might still be a part of this process ? But Somchai doesn't even acknowledge that, while he was away, his government tried to meet on Monday to change the constitution, and that this helped escalate the demonstrations which met him upon his return. Is he naive, or out-of-touch, or a bought man ?

The military have surely by now demonstrated, they don't want to get involved, if it can be avoided. Due credit to them.

But I'm afraid of the consequences, if they don't now step in, and blow the whistle for 'time-out'.

Edited November 27, 2008 by Ricardo

[siam4ever]

The army should step in and feed at trough for a while. Then there can be a peaceful election whereby the Thai people can freely elect the General of their choice.

[jdinasia]

Sure they were not a party at that time but the founders, the people with the money behind PAD were in the politics that time. They did lose... I am sorry if I explained myself wrongly...

and also from snowflake ------

Do you try to tell me that the PAD did not try to buy votes? Sure they did, they offered my GF 300B to vote for them!

The people have to stop wanting money and then it might be a fair election here... Its all about money!

You seem to be confusing the PAD which has never been a political party ---- with PPP/TRT that the EC have both found to be guilty of election rigging

[bniff]

Why do people still insist the current government was elected by a majority? Sure, the PPP got more votes than the other parties but that is because they BOUGHT the votes in Isaan! Until this country finds a way to block vote buying, new elections are not the solution -- the results will be the same.

Maybe a coup and another period of military rule will give the country time to insure truly free elections.

Do you try to tell me that the PAD did not try to buy votes? Sure they did, they offered my GF 300B to vote for them!

The people have to stop wanting money and then it might be a fair election here... Its all about money!

You made my way......

What fools the PAD are....offering money for the vote even they aren't a Party and can't be voted for

To add: most probably another paid poster who did not read his script carefully

Stop being a child - we all know what he meant.

As UG said; the Dems and MRT all buy votes - welcome to Thai politics. In any election by the masses MRT wins easily, even when the army change the constituation to stop him (and protect themselves from their illegal actions), ban his rallies and allow Dem / Pad rallies, control MRT areas through martial law, etc, etc. Don't forget how onesided the run up to the last election was, and MRT still ended up in power.

I voted no.

1) The army have no part in politics. Full stop. No, Thailand isn't a special case, it just says this as an attempt to hold back democracy. (When I say it, I mean certain currupt groups that don't want democracy to come because they won't hold the purse-strings any longer).

2) Have you not noticed a cycle? Should it be repeated yet again?

Anyways, my feeling is that things are likely to change big time from the 5th, for the worse. Burma here we come.

I agree