Traffic Chaos In Bangkok As Protesters Close Main Roads

[rainman]

2. They managed to pis* off Thai people as much or more than the PAD did

A few taxi drivers standing around Victory Monument surely did more damage than the yellow shirts blocking the international airport for a week, stranding hundreds of thousands of tourists and causing billions of dollars in damage, not to mention the thousands of jobs that were lost.

Aren't you the yellow head band wearing PAD farang? Can't find that funny picture right now ..

[Wolfie]

I think if the reds try to take the airport they will be in for a big shock... blood wil lstain the roads before the government/police/ar,y allow that to happen again

I doubt (and hope not) that they will take the airport.

For once we agree my friend

[Insight]

Thaksin Urges Red-shirt Supporters to Hold on for 3 More Days

Exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra last night called on red-shirt protesters to carry on with their planned three-day mass demonstration, promising them that their reward will be true democracy.

In a video-link speech to demonstrators outside the home of Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda, ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra assured the protesters that they would not return home with nothing to show for their efforts, but would instead be rewarded with a type of democracy they can believe in.

Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup, told his supporters that real democracy must replace the current political system, which he said was dominated by the aristocracy. Thaksin added that he does not want to see social discrimination in Thailand.

Urging protesters to carry on as planned, the exiled former PM also claimed that he is more interested in restoring democracy than returning to power or having his frozen assets released to him.

Thaksin, who has lived in exile since being convicted of corruption, said he hopes he will be the last victim of the aristocracy. He also asked for the opportunity to be allowed to promote so-called "people politics" for the public's interest.

- TOC / 2009-04-09

He should of asked the yellows - they'll do it for months and are not as expensive.

[h90]

2. They managed to pis* off Thai people as much or more than the PAD did

A few taxi drivers standing around Victory Monument surely did more damage than the yellow shirts blocking the international airport for a week, stranding hundreds of thousands of tourists and causing billions of dollars in damage, not to mention the thousands of jobs that were lost.

Aren't you the yellow head band wearing PAD farang? Can't find that funny picture right now ..

billions of dollar? Trillions? No Quadrillion, if PAD did not block the Airport for a week everyone worldwide would be rich by now, Nordkorea would be a true democracy, no African would be hungry anymore, Al Quaida would have made peace.......All is the fault of PAD.

[h90]

Thaksin Urges Red-shirt Supporters to Hold on for 3 More Days

Exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra last night called on red-shirt protesters to carry on with their planned three-day mass demonstration, promising them that their reward will be true democracy.

In a video-link speech to demonstrators outside the home of Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda, ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra assured the protesters that they would not return home with nothing to show for their efforts, but would instead be rewarded with a type of democracy they can believe in.

Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup, told his supporters that real democracy must replace the current political system, which he said was dominated by the aristocracy. Thaksin added that he does not want to see social discrimination in Thailand.

Urging protesters to carry on as planned, the exiled former PM also claimed that he is more interested in restoring democracy than returning to power or having his frozen assets released to him.

Thaksin, who has lived in exile since being convicted of corruption, said he hopes he will be the last victim of the aristocracy. He also asked for the opportunity to be allowed to promote so-called "people politics" for the public's interest.

- TOC / 2009-04-09

He should of asked the yellows - they'll do it for months and are not as expensive.

A comment (can't recall The Nation or BKK post) told something about 50 Mill Baht per day.

[sriracha john]

2. They managed to pis* off Thai people as much or more than the PAD did

A few taxi drivers standing around Victory Monument surely did more damage than the yellow shirts blocking the international airport for a week, stranding hundreds of thousands of tourists and causing billions of dollars in damage, not to mention the thousands of jobs that were lost.

Aren't you the yellow head band wearing PAD farang? Can't find that funny picture right now ..

[kurtgruen]

Good morning everyone.

Thought I'd check in, to see if there was any real news., since I only see a few reds left on Television, in Bangkok.

Read all the posts, since I logged off last night and came up with the following conclusions...

1. The Reds are up to their old tricks....throwing PingPong bombs in the middle of the night

2. They managed to pis* off Thai people as much or more than the PAD did

3. Abhisit has things well under control

4. The Asian Summit will go on as planned

5. Some people, conveniently, still forget about the mass murders that where committed during Thaksin's rule, by both Army and Police...3000 so-called drug dealers killed without a trial, more than 70 suffocated to death in a truck, after being piled on top of one another (Hollocaust style), Police putting tires around live people and setting them on fire, Thakin's son arriving in his motorcade in the hill tribe village, buying drugs.... later under his puppets Samak and Somchai, the violent crackdown of October 7th, that left several people dead.

6. If I had to follow somebody, I would rather follow a peaceful man like Chamlong (at least since his conversion many years ago), than a monster like Thaksin

Anyways, have fun everybody, I'm off to the beach. Should I see anything really interesting, on my way down to Rayong, I will find an internet cafe somewhere and keep you posted. Otherwise, it's coffee, delicious seafood and swimming for the next nine days

Cheers

5. For the 70 death I am not sure if Thaksin is to blame for this and no progress in finding the murders was done under Thaksin, Surayud, Samak, (Somchai) and Abhisit.

as for the 70+ deaths in the south that time, I forgot the guy who was acting for Thaksin that day. If they can't get Thaksin directly on this, they can sure get the guy, who was acting on behalf of Thaksin that day. Ordering the piling up of protesters, stacked on top of each other, in an enclosed truck, then transporting them until more than 70 of them suffocated, must be enough to put whoever ordered it away for life, I would think?

Anyways, gotta'get moving, otherwise, my wife and daughter might kill me.

[rainman]

billions of dollar? Trillions? No Quadrillion, if PAD did not block the Airport for a week everyone worldwide would be rich by now, Nordkorea would be a true democracy, no African would be hungry anymore, Al Quaida would have made peace.......All is the fault of PAD.

I almost laughed. But only almost, so ...not really.

[kurtgruen]

o.k., one more quick news flash from the Land of Smiles.

What do you think about your "Peaceful Red Demonstrations" now?...

Pro-Thaksin protesters confront police at Asian summit in Pattaya

By The Nation

Around 100 Thai anti-government protesters broke through an army cordon and marched towards a hotel hosting a summit of Asian leaders here Friday. Ads

The main crowd briefly clashed with police before some forced their way through a group of soldiers deployed about 500 metres (yards) from the luxury hotel.

A police deploying at an entrance of the hotel said that there were three police cordons to prevent the protesters from reaching the hotel.

As of noon, the protesters could break through the first cordon and are about 500 metres away from the hotel's entrance, police said.

Television footage later showed riot police and red-shirted protesters angrily pushing each other on a road leading to the hotel.

The protesters shouted slogans against current premier Abhisit Vejjajiva, demanding him to step down and dissolve the House.

"Abhisit get out! If this government does not accept our demands we will not go home," shouted the protesters.

[rainman]

Anyways, gotta'get moving, otherwise, my wife and daughter might kill me.

Stay!

[sriracha john]

Supporters of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra scuffle with riot policemen near the venue of the 14th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Pattaya April 10, 2009. Anti-government protesters converged on the Thai beach town of Pattaya on Friday with plans to disrupt an Asian summit as part of efforts to try to force Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to step down.

REUTERS

[chowder]

look like thaksin is fighting a loosing battle, government still intact, prem still prem, the red shirt with all hot air while the shin run away and hide, with a lame excuse we are on vacation, leaving red shirt scratching their head, asking for stupid demand "prem to resign , resign from what, they haven't got a clue how how prem get to be where he is, he is not a government official.

Taxi is doing mischief, i wonder how are they going to pay for their borrow taxi at the end of the day without working, i guess the pay work out, no need to work for that day, everything is being pay for.

Thaksin have enemies like everybody else, but after this incident he will have more enemies, this time the elite, i can't see any future for him, pitty but not to smart if you ask me.

Samak was right, Thaksin is surrounded by greed and moron individual, who ever give him the idea of the current situation must be one bozo.

Thaksin is a smart man, but have idiot adviser, if only Thaksin can think for himself, problaly he would know what to do, but than again he feel import with people surrounding him.

anyway life goes on, people don't have the pleasure to hang around all day doing nothing, they have mouth to feed, when the money run out the people will fade away.

[kurtgruen]

Anyways, gotta'get moving, otherwise, my wife and daughter might kill me.

Stay!

lol

[redscouse]

o.k., one more quick news flash from the Land of Smiles.

What do you think about your "Peaceful Red Demonstrations" now?...

Pro-Thaksin protesters confront police at Asian summit in Pattaya

By The Nation

Around 100 Thai anti-government protesters broke through an army cordon and marched towards a hotel hosting a summit of Asian leaders here Friday. Ads

The main crowd briefly clashed with police before some forced their way through a group of soldiers deployed about 500 metres (yards) from the luxury hotel.

A police deploying at an entrance of the hotel said that there were three police cordons to prevent the protesters from reaching the hotel.

As of noon, the protesters could break through the first cordon and are about 500 metres away from the hotel's entrance, police said.

Television footage later showed riot police and red-shirted protesters angrily pushing each other on a road leading to the hotel.

The protesters shouted slogans against current premier Abhisit Vejjajiva, demanding him to step down and dissolve the House.

"Abhisit get out! If this government does not accept our demands we will not go home," shouted the protesters.

just watched the footage of this,the reds just walked forward, including women, and the army/police backed off, no violence at all.

still its nothing like seizing buildings, shooting at people, beating people to death etc that the yellow criminals indulged in. they set the precedent, the government condoned it with their lethargic approach to bringing the yellow criminals to justice. you reap what you sow.

as for the picture above i suggest people watch the actual footage and judge it.

that said i do think it will all blow up soon and i see it as retribution as oppossed to gratuitis violence, the powers condoned it for one group and seem unsure now about stamping down on this, i am sure if the yellowswere dealt with properley from the start we would not have this situation now

[kurtgruen]

Forget which TV station it is, but the one that shows a lot of purple colour and has a purple symbol, that looks similar to a small b, are broadcasting road info in Bangkok and info about the protests all the time.

[redscouse]

Forget which TV station it is, but the one that shows a lot of purple colour and has a purple symbol, that looks similar to a small b, are broadcasting road info in Bangkok and info about the protests all the time.

TNN are also,

[bertlamar]

Mob at Vicotry monument would be around 1,000-1,500 at the most possibly less this morning.

PAD was able to get thousands for months....red shirts are down to a few within 48 hours.... given the claims of Rainman et al that there is this 60% support for Thaksin (an opinion) , it seems remarkable that they would lose steam so quickly. Definitely planned though; no one has 20,000 shirts, flags arm bands etc just sitting there for a rainy day, this is all about PR during hte summit, that's it. Why do you think so many signs are in english, not Thai? Speaknig to some of the mob last night, they can't even read some of the signs!

The fact of the matter is Thaksin has no where near 60%, he personally has perhaps something like 20%, and he was able to bring factions under his wing; like the Chidchobs, Chart Thai and Banharn, etc.

The moment he loses the factions, he won't be able to win.

The by-elections and last electoral result and BMA election proved that.

And BTW.....the south despise Thaksin...what are they - all Chinese millionaire elite coconut farmers?? Give me a break.

Some people swallow a bit too much PR methinks.

[kurtgruen]

Another huge embarrassment for Thailand

Billions of Baht have been spent in the past, to promote "The Land of Smiles" and here we are looking at angry protesters again, in international news, with pictures of a convicted criminal around their necks.

[Old Man River]

There is not much time left for play any cards.

It is loosing steam, how many protesters are there now? 5.000? 10.000?

And it won't get more anymore.....the money is burned this final war is lost as it seems.

Remember PAD had only 3,000 at the airport.

That was different. Then, Thailand had an ineffective government. Now, it has a government which will uphold the rule of law.

[rainman]

PAD was able to get thousands for months....red shirts are down to a few within 48 hours.... given the claims of Rainman et al that there is this 60% support for Thaksin (an opinion) , it seems remarkable that they would lose steam so quickly.

Perhaps because the red shirts have to go to work? I can't think of any average Thai citizen that can afford to sit around the government building for months without having to go to work. The people that sat around for PAD where either the homeless trying to get free food and shelter or high class Thais who could afford not to go to work for several months.

Use a bit of common sense, please.

[h90]

Another huge embarrassment for Thailand

Billions of Baht have been spent in the past, to promote "The Land of Smiles" and here we are looking at angry protesters again, in international news, with pictures of a convicted criminal around their necks.

But handing out 500 Baht rent a Kwai fee per day for a 20.000 people per day (and the money is not from the government) might help the local economic, Chang beer, Lao Kao producer, small Lao Kao reseller, red color factories, T-Shirt factories etc etc.

The ladies in Pattaya get 500 Baht instead of sitting lonely in the bar. The Pharmacist can sell first add instead of Viagra.

The tourists which are coming prefer go straight to the south, so the overall decrease in Thailand is in the south compensated due to the higher percentage going there.

So overall not a big impact.

[kurtgruen]

I agree. The Government has the power to move in at any time and take care of a few thousand protesters, but that is not in their best interest at the moment. The longer the protests go on, the more people will get angry at the Reds and Thaksin. This is the best PR that the Democrats could possibly get right now

As for Thailand''s reputation, sad...very sad..., but cracking down on the protesters would only make it worse right now, I think.

As for the delegates attending the Asian Summit, I'm sure they understand. I think the Summit will go on as planned.

[kurtgruen]

Anyways, gotta'get moving, otherwise, my wife and daughter might kill me.

Stay!

lol

She is making her special sauce for the seafood, at her mom's place right now, so I get to play some more

[AsiaCheese]

Yeah. Right.

There will be no coup - at least - not at any time soon. The old ruling elite has seen off (undemocratically) the challenge that Thaksin presented to their continued control and hegemony over the masses.

The constitution court ruled that PPP was guilty of election fraud and - as a consequence of this - the party and the government of which it was the main party - was forced to step down.

Under the circumstances - in any other country - another election should have been called - BUT here it wasn't.

Instead all that happened was that the opposition stepped-up and and formed the next government.

This was NOT democratic and the people should have been given the opportunity to chose the next government instead of the constitution court colluding with the powers-that-be and denying the people any democratic input.

If you thought Thaksin represented an authoritarian dictatorship - then the guys currently in power - of whom Abhisit is just a puppet - will make Thaksin look like small fry.

It's all over NOW as far as democracy goes in this country - that's if it ever existed here in the first place -

Democracy my a@@. Nice concept, except it doesn't really work (unless you turn 2 blind eyes).

Think about it: the people who actually go vote aren't necessarily representative of "the average population" (whatever or whoever that might be). An overwhelming part of voters are coaxed into ticking a specific box by extremely well-oiled marketing dept's, and the more populist a party, the more votes that party get -- it's lots easier to come up with heart-warming populist slogans than with anything that would actually also make sense.

Do people eat McWhatever and drink Coke because it's so dam_n good for their system and keeps them fit & slim? Is that Marlboro man (RIP, smoked too much) the good guy ('xcuse me, need to caugh here) because he projects such an easy life with a hi-so allure? Not very likely -- it's a marketing machine hammering "the average population" relentlessly, and they're buying.

Anything can be sold, up to and including power positions. So to step back to democracy, where does that leave "people's choice"? It took all of 8 years for "people" to finally wave good-bye to George W. Bringing in someone with a brain wasn't an easy task even then, despite the fact that it seemed fairly obvious to me that 90% of the "output" of those 8 years was a great big screw-up.

Don't ask me for a recipe, I don't have one. But blindly sticking to the holiest of ideas of democracy simply doesn't seem to cut it -- not there, not here, not anywhere. Do sucessful companies get a CEO through popular votes? Not really. To me, the current PM doesn't seem to do a bad job. Why not let him continue, and have some sort of independent (another dream) jury judge his performance or faux-pas on a regular basis -- for the best of the general population, mind you. Three strikes and you're out. Oh, and while we're at it: let's get rid of political parties and their marketing machines. They're about as conducive to any real goals as religions are to world peace...

[Insight]

Reports of 2,000 protesters Pattaya now.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/04/10...cs_30100171.php

Surely *the* perfect excuse to get the water cannons out?

[rixalex]

Perhaps because the red shirts have to go to work? I can't think of any average Thai citizen that can afford to sit around the government building for months without having to go to work. The people that sat around for PAD where either the homeless trying to get free food and shelter or high class Thais who could afford not to go to work for several months.

Use a bit of common sense, please.

You ask others to use common sense, but then you tell us that the yellows were just a mix of homeless people and the rich??? What planet are you on?

[kurtgruen]

Yeah. Right.

There will be no coup - at least - not at any time soon. The old ruling elite has seen off (undemocratically) the challenge that Thaksin presented to their continued control and hegemony over the masses.

The constitution court ruled that PPP was guilty of election fraud and - as a consequence of this - the party and the government of which it was the main party - was forced to step down.

Under the circumstances - in any other country - another election should have been called - BUT here it wasn't.

Instead all that happened was that the opposition stepped-up and and formed the next government.

This was NOT democratic and the people should have been given the opportunity to chose the next government instead of the constitution court colluding with the powers-that-be and denying the people any democratic input.

If you thought Thaksin represented an authoritarian dictatorship - then the guys currently in power - of whom Abhisit is just a puppet - will make Thaksin look like small fry.

It's all over NOW as far as democracy goes in this country - that's if it ever existed here in the first place -

Democracy my a@@. Nice concept, except it doesn't really work (unless you turn 2 blind eyes).

Think about it: the people who actually go vote aren't necessarily representative of "the average population" (whatever or whoever that might be). An overwhelming part of voters are coaxed into ticking a specific box by extremely well-oiled marketing dept's, and the more populist a party, the more votes that party get -- it's lots easier to come up with heart-warming populist slogans than with anything that would actually also make sense.

Do people eat McWhatever and drink Coke because it's so dam_n good for their system and keeps them fit & slim? Is that Marlboro man (RIP, smoked too much) the good guy ('xcuse me, need to caugh here) because he projects such an easy life with a hi-so allure? Not very likely -- it's a marketing machine hammering "the average population" relentlessly, and they're buying.

Anything can be sold, up to and including power positions. So to step back to democracy, where does that leave "people's choice"? It took all of 8 years for "people" to finally wave good-bye to George W. Bringing in someone with a brain wasn't an easy task even then, despite the fact that it seemed fairly obvious to me that 90% of the "output" of those 8 years was a great big screw-up.

Don't ask me for a recipe, I don't have one. But blindly sticking to the holiest of ideas of democracy simply doesn't seem to cut it -- not there, not here, not anywhere. Do sucessful companies get a CEO through popular votes? Not really. To me, the current PM doesn't seem to do a bad job. Why not let him continue, and have some sort of independent (another dream) jury judge his performance or faux-pas on a regular basis -- for the best of the general population, mind you. Three strikes and you're out. Oh, and while we're at it: let's get rid of political parties and their marketing machines. They're about as conducive to any real goals as religions are to world peace...

I totally agree and here again, Democracy itself is only supported by the propaganda machine. It is by far not the best system in the world, but the Western media will keep telling you that it is.

I think it is time to develop a new Political system that actually works and gets the job done. Not just here, but around the World... NEW POLITICS! You'd think with all these brains in the world, we would be able to come up with a system that is better.

[h90]

Reports of 2,000 protesters Pattaya now.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/04/10...cs_30100171.php

Surely *the* perfect excuse to get the water cannons out?

It is Sonkran, why not water them a little bit?

After days of protesting a shower would be nice anyway

[rainman]

Perhaps because the red shirts have to go to work? I can't think of any average Thai citizen that can afford to sit around the government building for months without having to go to work. The people that sat around for PAD where either the homeless trying to get free food and shelter or high class Thais who could afford not to go to work for several months.

Use a bit of common sense, please.

You ask others to use common sense, but then you tell us that the yellows were just a mix of homeless people and the rich??? What planet are you on?

Planet Common Sense. You?

[chrislarsson]

billions of dollar? Trillions? No Quadrillion, if PAD did not block the Airport for a week everyone worldwide would be rich by now, Nordkorea would be a true democracy, no African would be hungry anymore, Al Quaida would have made peace.......All is the fault of PAD.

I almost laughed. But only almost, so ...not really.

50,000 million baht accounted for the loss of income to the airport authority.

A study done by Bank of Thailand estimated the cost to $290 billion Baht. That's almost $10 billion dollars.

"According to the study, the losses included 120 billion baht in the service industry, 90 billion baht in logistics and 60 billion baht in industry."

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/13...bt290-bln-study

If you include goodwill the loss is much larger.