Traffic Chaos In Bangkok As Protesters Close Main Roads

[rainman]

Rainman is certainly getting worked up about this one.

It's a quarterly event... we last saw him in the News Forum back in December.

Perhaps another shipment of rainman exports is in limbo...? That seemed to be his underlying complaint when the airport was shut down in November/December. Rainman, what gives?

The airports are open, aren't they? Another thoughtless post. You should open a separate thread for me if you want to discuss me.

[jbowman1993]

The main problem with the red's campaign, is that they can't win...so why are the causing so much trouble lol

[chrislarsson]

The only responsible solution is to dissolve the house and call for new elections.

Why?

It seems to be the only sensible solution right now. How else can their be a government that can be accepted by all parties?

The current PM might be a good guy, but he seems to be under the army rather than above it.

[rainman]

The main problem with the red's campaign, is that they can't win...so why are the causing so much trouble lol

The yellow shirts didn't win either. The courts had a date set for their decision on the dissolution of the PPP party way before the yellow shirts even went to the streets. So why did they do it?

They're both silly, I agree. Some people prefer Thaksin, others prefer Abhisit. It's called an opinion. Just because ten fish swim up the stream doesn't mean the other ten can't swim down the stream.

The red shirts haven't even entered the government house yet. The yellow shirts were practically living there for months. The red shirts haven't taken over any airports, but the yellow shirts held 2 Bangkok airports for a week and kept raiding other smaller airports.

So far the red shirts have done much less damage than the yellow shirts. But yet the yellow shirt supporters are outraged and surprised at what's happening, when they themselves did the very same thing, not for days, but for months. They didn't care what everyone else thought about months of government house occupation, a week of airport occupation and daily demonstrations on the streets.

[LevelHead]

I think the Reds have done well for the moment.

Thailand is in the headlines on BBC, CNN and the questions over the military, PAD, Democrats is all over the news. This raises international awareness of the problems with the coup in 2006 and all events since the coup.

The PAD links with the government are well documented and will keep getting looked into.

All in all not a bad demo.

They can now have a party for week and get back to the next phases after Songkran.

They will have to keep a minimal amount of Reds at the main protest site, this will give the protest is "longevity" so later news reporters can refer to "on going demonstrations for months".

At this time lets not forget the poor farangs who were killed on their drive from Bangkok to Phuket to catch planes out of Thailand as the PAD shut the airport. The PAD shut it in full knowledge this would cause problems and it resulted in the death of innocents.

Funny how the Yellow shirt lovers ignore that little tit bit.

[rainman]

If Abhisit really has the backing of the majority of Thais, he should have nothing to fear by calling for new elections.

[bertlamar]

The main problem with the red's campaign, is that they can't win...so why are the causing so much trouble lol

Anyone in PR can see the aim here; it is to gain legitimacy for Thaksin internationally, that he is a wronged good guy.

All the foreign media and officials are here....so that's why they protest, using english signs no less.

The massive investment in sound systems, T shirts and matching accessories and flags etc might convince a few foreign press that the former PM who famously claimed he was done with politics among other things such as promising no traffic jams in 6 months plus killing various sotutherners and alleged (but clearly innocent in some cases) drug dealers while knocking Thailand's free press downwards almost 100 countries and simply riding a wave of global economic opportunity while adding minimally to the Thai economy himself yet tripling his family's own personal wealth in a mere 4 years is actually simply a misunderstood great guy.

As for the claims that the reds would sweep to power.....if there is a few more months to get a few more factions under control, I cannot wait for the next election when it will be a case of telling 111 idiots + a few more joining them to take their ill gotten gains and hang out with their leader in............. Dubai is it Rainman?

[sriracha john]

Their leader, Arisman Phongruangrong, handed over "the letter of demand"

They made a sit-in protest close to stairs of the Conventional Hall which is the meeting venue. Arisaman used megaphone to criticise the Abhisit government.

I think Arisman might have some other ulterior motives and reasons for attempting to bring down the government....

1.2 Billion Reasons...

Singer-turned-politician former MP from Banned Thai Rak Thai Party Arisman Phongruangrong

The Assets Examination Committee yesterday indicted eight individuals for corruption relating to 1.2 Billion Baht in kickbacks over construction of the Ua Athorn housing project.

They included former Social Development and Human Security Minister Watana Muangsook, his aide Mana Wongpipat, and former MP Arisman Pongruangrong.

"Of the 15 contractors for the Ua Athorn project, eight have been linked to the 1.2 Billion Baht in bribes and evidence has clearly shown that the minister and his middlemen demanded and received kickbacks," AEC member Kaewsan Atibhodi said.

Arisman said his group would not disrupt the three-day summit which ends Sunday.

He said his group will spend Friday night at the provincial seat of Chonburi and would return on Saturday with more UDD core leaders from Bangkok joining.

- MCOT / 2009-04-10

[sriracha john]

Is hammered is putting them all up for the night?

[jbowman1993]

The main problem with the red's campaign, is that they can't win...so why are the causing so much trouble lol

The yellow shirts didn't win either. The courts had a date set for their decision on the dissolution of the PPP party way before the yellow shirts even went to the streets. So why did they do it?

They're both silly, I agree. Some people prefer Thaksin, others prefer Abhisit. It's called an opinion. Just because ten fish swim up the stream doesn't mean the other ten can't swim down the stream.

The red shirts haven't even entered the government house yet. The yellow shirts were practically living there for months. The red shirts haven't taken over any airports, but the yellow shirts held 2 Bangkok airports for a week and kept raiding other smaller airports.

So far the red shirts have done much less damage than the yellow shirts. But yet the yellow shirt supporters are outraged and surprised at what's happening, when they themselves did the very same thing, not for days, but for months. They didn't care what everyone else thought about months of government house occupation, a week of airport occupation and daily demonstrations on the streets.

Why do people continually bring up the yellow shirts when I comment on issues. I don't give a sh#t about the yellows, never have, never will. They are idiots, the reds are idiots, etc.

What I haven't heard Rainman comment on (or EdwardM, etc), is Thaksin's call to bring children to the rally, the very day that his entire family was whisked out of the country. Probably because that soft of behavior has no defense. Rich Man's War, Poor Man's Fight. Thaksin is a coward, as are his family members. If he really wants change, then let him bring his pasty white saggy ass back to Bangkok, and do his jail time (A.K.A Nelson Mandella), to protest his innocence from a solid moral foundation. Then he might start getting some respect from me.

[LevelHead]

The only responsible solution is to dissolve the house and call for new elections.

Why?

It seems to be the only sensible solution right now. How else can their be a government that can be accepted by all parties?

The current PM might be a good guy, but he seems to be under the army rather than above it.

The WHOLE PROBLEM comes from the coup in 2006.

And until the country is returned to "pre coup" then this will go on and on.

Dissolve the House.

Put the old "peoples constitution" back into effect.

Have an election where everyone can contest seats, no banned politicians.

Then things might get back to normal.

All Abhisit and the Democrats appear to have done so far is jump in bed with Newin and his ilk to gain power, go out and borrow loads of money, throw it away by giving out 2000B cheques, have scandal after scandal and basically stand by doing nothing whilst hundreds of thousands of Thai's lose their jobs. All the while appointing PAD people to powerful positions and advisory roles to the government.

The government is a shambles and is paralysed owing to the big money backers who got it into power.

Abhisit looks like a puppet on a string, and I am thinking that come the time he writes his memoirs in old age he will look back saying that the uncomfortable smile he had on his face was due to the fact he was always told what to do, and he regrets being used by others as a "fresh face" on a an old and ugly beast.

[rainman]

All the foreign media and officials are here....so that's why they protest, using english signs no less.

The massive investment in sound systems, T shirts and matching accessories and flags etc

Didn't the yellow shirt PAD use nearly all english signs as well? And the big stages with the huge speaker, matching t-shirts, flags, etc?

[Old Man River]

If Abhisit really has the backing of the majority of Thais, he should have nothing to fear by calling for new elections.

There is something going on other than politics in Thailand. It is amazing to me how many people forget the economy. New elections is exactly what this country does not need now.

[jbowman1993]

If Abhisit really has the backing of the majority of Thais, he should have nothing to fear by calling for new elections.

Nothing to gain either. He is already the PM, and already has a stable majority in Parliament. Meanwhile, his government has produced more positive results in 3 months, than ahve been produced since 2006 (ASEAN legislation, Economic Stimulus bills, etc)

Frankly, I wonder why the Reds would want an election. The January byelection results clearly show that Newin and the Dems would take away a good deal of their current seats, if held. PT would be further marginalized than they currently are.

[rixalex]

So far the red shirts have done much less damage than the yellow shirts. But yet the yellow shirt supporters are outraged and surprised at what's happening, when they themselves did the very same thing, not for days, but for months. They didn't care what everyone else thought about months of government house occupation, a week of airport occupation and daily demonstrations on the streets.

That swings both ways. When the yellows were protesting Thaksin's mob were bitterly complaining about how selfish it was for a small minority to be disrupting the country - how it was undemocratic - but now they are happy to use the exact same method, and their only feeble reasoning to explain the complete u-turn on doing something they said to be wrong is that "well the yellows did it, so why can't we?"

This isn't the stuff of politics it's the stuff of playground.

Besides, i think you'll find the yellows are neither outraged or surprised at what has happened. If the reds want to protest and they do so legally then good for them. They have their right to protest as much as the yellows did.

Edited April 10, 2009 by rixalex

[rainman]

All Abhisit and the Democrats appear to have done so far is jump in bed with Newin and his ilk to gain power, go out and borrow loads of money, throw it away by giving out 2000B cheques, have scandal after scandal and basically stand by doing nothing whilst hundreds of thousands of Thai's lose their jobs. All the while appointing PAD people to powerful positions and advisory roles to the government.

The funny thing about the 2000 Baht cheques is that only government workers were eligible, who are not the ones that lost their jobs due to the PAD demonstrations last year.

No cheques for the tourism industry workers that lost their jobs.

No cheques for the people working in the factories that closed down.

No cheques for the farmers who lost and are still losing due lost export contracts.

But 2000 Baht shopping cheques for government workers, who already have a higher salary than most average Thais.

That's Abhisit.

[jbowman1993]

The only responsible solution is to dissolve the house and call for new elections.

Why?

It seems to be the only sensible solution right now. How else can their be a government that can be accepted by all parties?

The current PM might be a good guy, but he seems to be under the army rather than above it.

The WHOLE PROBLEM comes from the coup in 2006.

And until the country is returned to "pre coup" then this will go on and on.

Dissolve the House.

Put the old "peoples constitution" back into effect.

Have an election where everyone can contest seats, no banned politicians.

Then things might get back to normal.

All Abhisit and the Democrats appear to have done so far is jump in bed with Newin and his ilk to gain power, go out and borrow loads of money, throw it away by giving out 2000B cheques, have scandal after scandal and basically stand by doing nothing whilst hundreds of thousands of Thai's lose their jobs. All the while appointing PAD people to powerful positions and advisory roles to the government.

The government is a shambles and is paralysed owing to the big money backers who got it into power.

Abhisit looks like a puppet on a string, and I am thinking that come the time he writes his memoirs in old age he will look back saying that the uncomfortable smile he had on his face was due to the fact he was always told what to do, and he regrets being used by others as a "fresh face" on a an old and ugly beast.

Broken record...

[jbowman1993]

The main problem with the red's campaign, is that they can't win...so why are the causing so much trouble lol

The yellow shirts didn't win either. The courts had a date set for their decision on the dissolution of the PPP party way before the yellow shirts even went to the streets. So why did they do it?

They're both silly, I agree. Some people prefer Thaksin, others prefer Abhisit. It's called an opinion. Just because ten fish swim up the stream doesn't mean the other ten can't swim down the stream.

The red shirts haven't even entered the government house yet. The yellow shirts were practically living there for months. The red shirts haven't taken over any airports, but the yellow shirts held 2 Bangkok airports for a week and kept raiding other smaller airports.

So far the red shirts have done much less damage than the yellow shirts. But yet the yellow shirt supporters are outraged and surprised at what's happening, when they themselves did the very same thing, not for days, but for months. They didn't care what everyone else thought about months of government house occupation, a week of airport occupation and daily demonstrations on the streets.

Why do people continually bring up the yellow shirts when I comment on issues. I don't give a sh#t about the yellows, never have, never will. They are idiots, the reds are idiots, etc.

What I haven't heard Rainman comment on (or EdwardM, etc), is Thaksin's call to bring children to the rally, the very day that his entire family was whisked out of the country. Probably because that soft of behavior has no defense. Rich Man's War, Poor Man's Fight. Thaksin is a coward, as are his family members. If he really wants change, then let him bring his pasty white saggy ass back to Bangkok, and do his jail time (A.K.A Nelson Mandella), to protest his innocence from a solid moral foundation. Then he might start getting some respect from me.

Thaksin will not come back to THailand while there is a very strong chance he will be executed.

My word, how little you know about the "real story".

Im glad you enjoy the freedom to voice your moronic comments on this site LH. Keep em coming!

[eldar1]

All Abhisit and the Democrats appear to have done so far is jump in bed with Newin and his ilk to gain power, go out and borrow loads of money, throw it away by giving out 2000B cheques, have scandal after scandal and basically stand by doing nothing whilst hundreds of thousands of Thai's lose their jobs. All the while appointing PAD people to powerful positions and advisory roles to the government.

The funny thing about the 2000 Baht cheques is that only government workers were eligible, who are not the ones that lost their jobs due to the PAD demonstrations last year.

No cheques for the tourism industry workers that lost their jobs.

No cheques for the people working in the factories that closed down.

No cheques for the farmers who lost and are still losing due lost export contracts.

But 2000 Baht shopping cheques for government workers, who already have a higher salary than most average Thais.

That's Abhisit.

That's bull, most of my wife's extended family have received the stimulus cheques and they all work regular jobs in factories around the country.

[Old Man River]

Rich Man's War, Poor Man's Fight. Thaksin is a coward, as are his family members. If he really wants change, then let him bring his pasty white saggy ass back to Bangkok, and do his jail time (A.K.A Nelson Mandella), to protest his innocence from a solid moral foundation. Then he might start getting some respect from me.

JBowman1993, you have hit the proverbial nail on the head.

BTW, their flight from Thailand was explained yesterday by a member of the Shinawatra clan. They went on vacation!

This whole thing is about:

"Money it's a gas

Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash

New car, caviar, four star daydream,

Think I'll buy me a football team."

Roger Waters

[sriracha john]

At this time lets not forget the poor farangs who were killed on their drive from Bangkok to Phuket to catch planes out of Thailand as the PAD shut the airport. The PAD shut it in full knowledge this would cause problems and it resulted in the death of innocents.

Funny how the Yellow shirt lovers ignore that little tit bit.

Not ignored it, but just kept it in realistic perspective.

The car accident, far removed from Bangkok, while tragic, was not caused by PAD (eg. they didn't run them off the road).

Your logic is the same as the bent Thai cop, who upon arriving at a car accident scene involving a farang automatically assesses culpability for the accident to the farang, whether it's factual or not... with the twisted logic that, "If the farang hadn't been in Thailand, the accident would have never happened."

Edited April 10, 2009 by sriracha john

[jbowman1993]

All Abhisit and the Democrats appear to have done so far is jump in bed with Newin and his ilk to gain power, go out and borrow loads of money, throw it away by giving out 2000B cheques, have scandal after scandal and basically stand by doing nothing whilst hundreds of thousands of Thai's lose their jobs. All the while appointing PAD people to powerful positions and advisory roles to the government.

The funny thing about the 2000 Baht cheques is that only government workers were eligible, who are not the ones that lost their jobs due to the PAD demonstrations last year.

No cheques for the tourism industry workers that lost their jobs.

No cheques for the people working in the factories that closed down.

No cheques for the farmers who lost and are still losing due lost export contracts.

But 2000 Baht shopping cheques for government workers, who already have a higher salary than most average Thais.

That's Abhisit.

That's bull, most of my wife's extended family have received the stimulus cheques and they all work regular jobs in factories around the country.

Complete crap from Rainman - The stimulus checks were given to all members of the Social Security Scheme (that includes government workers, aprox 1.2 million) making less than 15k a month, and most companies in Thailand are part of this scheme. Also, once a person is a member, they can continue to be, even after losing their job, when they receive unemployment benefits etc. The number was close to 10 million who qualified. Both my wife and I are members of the Social Security, and both make over 15k. Neither of us received stimulus checks. However, all the workers at my wife's company did, and none of them are government workers.

Edited April 10, 2009 by jbowman1993

[sriracha john]

Thaksin is a coward, as are his family members. If he really wants change, then let him bring his pasty white saggy ass back to Bangkok

Edited April 10, 2009 by sriracha john

[LevelHead]

All Abhisit and the Democrats appear to have done so far is jump in bed with Newin and his ilk to gain power, go out and borrow loads of money, throw it away by giving out 2000B cheques, have scandal after scandal and basically stand by doing nothing whilst hundreds of thousands of Thai's lose their jobs. All the while appointing PAD people to powerful positions and advisory roles to the government.

The funny thing about the 2000 Baht cheques is that only government workers were eligible, who are not the ones that lost their jobs due to the PAD demonstrations last year.

No cheques for the tourism industry workers that lost their jobs.

No cheques for the people working in the factories that closed down.

No cheques for the farmers who lost and are still losing due lost export contracts.

But 2000 Baht shopping cheques for government workers, who already have a higher salary than most average Thais.

That's Abhisit.

That's bull, most of my wife's extended family have received the stimulus cheques and they all work regular jobs in factories around the country.

Complete crap from Rainman - The stimulus checks were given to all members of the Social Security Scheme (that includes government workers, aprox 1.2 million) making less than 15k a month, and most companies in Thailand are part of this scheme. Also, once a person is a member, they can continue to be, even after losing their job, when they receive unemployment benefits etc. The number was close to 10 million who qualified.

2000 baht each to stop 10 million demonstrating was it? Or was there some other reason?

So succesful was the stimulus package that the country continues down the pan, but at least for now the reds have been kept to just over 100,000 at peak levels in a single place.

So perhaps another round of 2000 baht cheques will need to be promised in June to stop more joining the reds in the months ahead?

[LevelHead]

Anway, its Friday night and time to party and have a great long weekend.

So enough of this politics rubbish and yellow and red.

Party time.................see you in a few days.

[jbowman1993]

2000 baht each to stop 10 million demonstrating was it? Or was there some other reason?

So succesful was the stimulus package that the country continues down the pan, but at least for now the reds have been kept to just over 100,000 at peak levels in a single place.

So perhaps another round of 2000 baht cheques will need to be promised in June to stop more joining the reds in the months ahead?

Funny, those idiots in the US, Japan, China, and a hundred others, did the exact same thing. Good to know that they are all idiots. How soon before the invitations for LH to assume leadership of their respective countries is issued. I'll wait with breathless anticipation.

Edited April 10, 2009 by jbowman1993

[eldar1]

2000 baht each to stop 10 million demonstrating was it? Or was there some other reason?

So succesful was the stimulus package that the country continues down the pan, but at least for now the reds have been kept to just over 100,000 at peak levels in a single place.

So perhaps another round of 2000 baht cheques will need to be promised in June to stop more joining the reds in the months ahead?

You are serious going to tell me you believe that the economic stimulus cheques were a bribe to keep 10 million people from joining the red mob ??? You're winding us up aren't you?

[brahmburgers]

All talk of Thaksin being executed and/or his life being under threat, stems from Thaksin and his ilk - and is purely designed to fan the embers of any sympathy he can conjure from the remains of his ebbing supporters.

As for whether Mr. Abhisit should call for elections: Why should he? He's already PM and got there legally.

The Reds are fueled by bitterness, and their fuel gauge is pointing close to empty. They're nearly played out. Mr. Abhisit just needs to keep a cool head for a little while longer, and the red tide will blow out to sea. However, I would recommend the PM get better security personnel, ....not just for his personal movements, but also to protect Thai people and property from the worst elements of the red shirts.

[sriracha john]

PT would be further marginalized than they currently are.

and thus likely even more violent then they already are.... this talk of theirs of accepting new election results is a pile of

[jbowman1993]

PT would be further marginalized than they currently are.

and thus likely even more violent then they already are.... this talk of theirs of accepting new election results is a pile of

And Thailand sits through 4 months of having no leadership, leading up to the election, during the worst recession in decades, and during the year they are serving as ASEAN Chair...thats a wonderful idea!

Oh, and how many Puea Thai MP's will jump ship to Bhum Jai Thai (Newin)? Most put the figure at close to 60. PT could conceiably be down below 100 MP's. And what would be the result? Aphisit is still PM, Newin's faction has more power (making them more difficult to work with, see the airport debate currently underway), and Thailand has lost more valuable time for NOTHING!