Traffic Chaos In Bangkok As Protesters Close Main Roads

[Sunderland]

OOOOooooo I did n't expect to be watching the Foreign and Commonwealth website closely again for January 2010. Hubby says if we have to cancel then we wont bother booking Thailand again (this would be a great shame). We loose £300 a time which is alot of money at this time in our economic situation. I have every sympathy with people expressing their right to free speeh and true democracy, but I feel another coup is maybe on the cards to prevent all out civil war.

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 -

It never existed in the 'western' sense of the word, so nothing has been lost.

[justanothercybertosser]

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 -

...says one of the biggest cheerleaders of the PAD of this forum...

...what initiated the sudden change of opinion?

[edwardmoulton]

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 -

Thumbs up to you. One of the very few posts here that I completely agree with. Thaksin was a threat to the elite in Thailand that has run the country with their puppets for decades. Thaksin had enough money himself, he didn't need to accept the bribes of the elite and that's why he had to go.

Of course they found him guilty in the land purchase case. But if you dig deep enough, you'll find that 99%+ of Thai politicians used their position in politics at some point to influence this or that deal. It's how politics works. Take Berlusconi in Italy for example. Everyone knows he's a corrupt crook and steals money left and right, but he runs the country the right way and that's why people vote for him.

But back to Thailand. Thaksin got too powerful and dangerous for the elite. He threatened their continuous grip on Thailand's government and that's why he had to go.

rainman - I guess we're in total agreement -

Also - the army had a 'hands-off' approach when it came to the PAD - the PAD was basically able to do whatever they liked - whenever they liked - no matter how many people they inconvenienced - or whatever the economic cost to the counrty was - BUT - you can be sure that the army now is well and firmly on the side of the government and the old ruling elite that whole-heartedly supports it - and vice-versa -

One step out of line by the red-shirts ( Thaksin) and the army will shoot on the red shirts or whatever for they have absolutely nothing to lose now - THEY'RE IN TOTAL CONTROL -

It's their country again - taken back from that dastardly scoundrel Thaksin who threaten their existence and powerbase.

rainman - as you so rightfully said: "He threatened their continuous grip on Thailand's government and that's why he had to go."

Nuff said!

Spot on both of you... But even given their power, I believe the military will have to give in to the people ultimately... It is just a matter of how long!

[rainman]

One step out of line by the red-shirts ( Thaksin) and the army will shoot on the red shirts or whatever for they have absolutely nothing to lose now - THEY'RE IN TOTAL CONTROL -

And notice how the police said that they will deal with the protesters? Why did they not deal with the PAD when they caused billions of damages to Thailand? The military didn't step in when the PAD went to the streets, but they're quite willing now.

The way I see it, it's the following:

On one side:

- Thaksin.

- 55-60%+ of Thais (farmers, taxi drivers, aka the poor)

On the other side:

- Abhisit (aka puppet)

- Army

- Police

- 40-45% of Thais (probably 70%+ chinese, aka high class/elite)

Feel free to say that Thaksin got only around 40% in the last election. Of course, because the majority of people voted for the smaller parties, like Newin, that were allied with Thaksin. Once Newin and the others switched to Abhisit, they will lose many votes in the next elections. That's why Abhisit isn't calling for new elections.

But the problem goes much deeper than just Thaksin vs. Abhisit, or TRT/PPP vs. Democrats. The problem is that Thailand's Chinese minority and the elite backing them have been ruling Thailand for a long time, while the majority of Thais who are not ethnic Chinese are basically the slaves of the elite. That's the sad truth.

And don't consider my opinions racist. I have nothing against ethnic Chinese, but that is where the problem comes from. Their continuous grip on the power has given rise to Thaksin, whom many of the poorer Thais see as someone that stands up for them and makes their voices heard. Sure, he profits from everywhere he can, but don't think that the puppets of the elite don't take money as well.

Another problem is that the high class/elite is concentrated in Bangkok, while all the poorer Thais are countryside. This creates something like a North Thailand vs. South Thailand.

The biggest problem is that through Thaksin's years in power, the majority of Thais, who are poor, have gotten a taste of their voices being heard. They're no longer sitting quiet while the now-ruling minority tells them to go home and be quiet. They're coming from where the majority of Thais are from ..from the countryside. The government tried to block them from coming to Bangkok, as they officially declared in the news. Most of them got here anyways. Now they're taking to the streets and the government is telling them to shut up. It won't work.

One of the PAD leaders said during the airport occupation, on live TV, that the poor people from upcountry should be stripped from their voting rights because they don't know who they're voting for. That is the most horrible statement I have ever heard in Thailand. It's like saying "if you don't vote for me, you shouldn't be allowed to vote at all".

Abhisit has gotten a taste of power and he likes being the PM (who wouldn't?) and he doesn't want to go. Eventually he won't have another choice. He should have much sooner called for elections and Thaksin would have never gotten the momentum that he now has. Elections would have been held and Thaksin, just convicted and his party disbanded, may not have gotten enough votes.

With Abhisit now holding on to power, having been elected PM by the elite minority, without free and democratic votes, the majority of poor Thais are feeling that they have been cheated, their country taken away from them. This has given Thaksin the momentum that he needed to stage a comeback.

This won't end overnight. If Abhisit steps down and Thaksin wins the next elections, the PAD will come back. If Abhisit wins, the UDD will come back. The sadly best solution would be a North Thailand and a South Thailand. We all know that won't happen, so the solution will likely be a lot uglier. We're not the ones that will ultimately decide what path Thailand will go from here, but there is no easy way out.

Thailand is where many countries have been at before. In some it turned into a civil war, in others into North and South, East and West, in others into a revolution, in others in a reform.

The elite will not lose power at any cost. The poor will not shut up under any circumstance.

Watch and see what happens, that's all we can do.

Edited April 9, 2009 by rainman

[rainman]

Just on the news ...Surayud Chulanont's son his a red-shirt Taxi with his Mercedes Benz, apparently by accident.

[Virin]

I am bored of elites vs poors . NO, it's not, this fight is between Anti-Thaksin vs Pro-Thaksin.

When Thai Rak Thai was in power, look at who are those people, real elites. More truth out there, much more than in the news in English.

[Virin]

Just on the news ...Surayud Chulanont's son his a red-shirt Taxi with his Mercedes Benz, apparently by accident.

Not son of Surayud Chulanont, the driver in Mercedes Benz is the son of Theera Sutabhut, former Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives.

[samgrowth]

Just on the news ...Surayud Chulanont's son his a red-shirt Taxi with his Mercedes Benz, apparently by accident.

Not son of Surayud Chulanont, the driver in Mercedes Benz is the son of Theera Sutabhut, former Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives.

Who is this guy?

I do a google, he seems to be a african voodoo RAINMAN.

http://www.google.co.th/search?hl=en&q=Sutabhut

The king allows royal rain specialists to help Tesania people who are being hardly Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej allowed agriculture ministry to send specialists in producing artificial rains and teach on technology in producing the artificial rain to help Tansania people who are reportedly hit seriously by drought , the report said .

Agriculture and Cooperative minister Thira Sutabhut revealed today 14 February 2007 that the royal artificial rain specialist office informed to the Agriculture and Cooperative ministry that the king allowed the ministry to send specialist in producing the royal artificial rain team to help Tansania according to the request by the Tansanian government .

According to the Agriculture and Cooperative ministry , Tansania faced serious drought and continually increased drought to relief the people sufferings in that country .

In this occasion , the king advised officials to study target areas and wind direction. They have to have a plan in operation including important equipment to be used in the country since Thailand and Tensinai had different climate , the source said .

In the beginning , the ministry contacted to Tensania for information about climate and areas including Tansani agency to conduct the activity and for the time being , Tansanian government sent information needed to the ministry and it is expected this month , the special team will departure for that country.

The specialists included seven people and the team will use two weeks for study all needed .

The agriculture and cooperative minister also said that the special group will teach on how to make an artificial rain to Tansania and will sent a pilot and some specialists to be stationed in that country for some time .

Edited April 9, 2009 by samgrowth

[rixalex]

Of course they found him guilty in the land purchase case.

Well yes.... could have had something to do with the fact he was.

[connel707]

Lovely, this will really endear the reds to Bangkokians.

a dose of their own medicine, since they rammed it down ours

seems Abhisit just has to learn the hard way

for all his intelligence and education, he should have seen this a MILE away, before he took on PM

Abhisit is intelligent and well educated but his is still Thai. In my experience, they have the immediate gain in any situation ingrained into their every move.

After years in the wings winning no votes or support, he saw his big chance to make a name for himself. He engineered himself to be chosen as the cool safe smiley face for the real power behind to hold like a puppet.

Did he realize that this would be a very short premiership,? Probably. Did he see all these protests coming? Probably. But he could not resist being able to say he is PM even for a short time...

Meanwhile, we need the inconvenience in the short term IMHO to work this thing out. The ONLY way to keep everyone (except the few elite, but tough sh*t) happy is to have free and fair elections (as far as possible!) and the sooner Abhisit stands down the better for us all. Only the can we move on to a hope of real democracy and an end to the dual standards and corruption that plagues Thailand and holds it back...

Notice, I never once said Thaksin should return to power. I see him as a necessary catalyst here as he is the only one who can do this right now and Thailand desperately needs to turn the corner as it has become a laughing stock for so many reasons - stranded tourists, falling education standards, growing corruption, ethnic abuse, border disputes, appalling air safety, worse entertainment safety, and so on and so on...

Edwardmoulton, are you sure you are living in Thailand...what a lot of bo**ocks, and as for the Red Shirt turnout, Glasgow Celtic had more than double this amount for their last weeks match against Falkirk..... Enjoy all the chaos.... where would you rather be.?

[0zz1]

One step out of line by the red-shirts ( Thaksin) and the army will shoot on the red shirts or whatever for they have absolutely nothing to lose now - THEY'RE IN TOTAL CONTROL -

And notice how the police said that they will deal with the protesters? Why did they not deal with the PAD when they caused billions of damages to Thailand? The military didn't step in when the PAD went to the streets, but they're quite willing now.

The way I see it, it's the following:

On one side:

- Thaksin.

- 55-60%+ of Thais (farmers, taxi drivers, aka the poor)

On the other side:

- Abhisit (aka puppet)

- Army

- Police

- 40-45% of Thais (probably 70%+ chinese, aka high class/elite)

Feel free to say that Thaksin got only around 40% in the last election. Of course, because the majority of people voted for the smaller parties, like Newin, that were allied with Thaksin. Once Newin and the others switched to Abhisit, they will lose many votes in the next elections. That's why Abhisit isn't calling for new elections.

Another problem is that the high class/elite is concentrated in Bangkok, while all the poorer Thais are countryside. This creates something like a North Thailand vs. South Thailand.

The elite will not lose power at any cost. The poor will not shut up under any circumstance.

Watch and see what happens, that's all we can do.

ok you must be living in Essan, right?

First of all I totally disagree with your % above. I would say both sides have most likely around 10-15% support and rest just dont give f#€k. Most Thais whether farmer of university student in BKK could not care less about politics and dont support either side.

Secondly I believe its more like Essan and other Thailand than North and South. Im living in Chiang Mai myself and people here I have been talking to again most dont give a f#€k and those who do are mainly on the side of Abhisit and his cronies.

So let Essan have Thanksin and have their own country, they have their own language already =) , hmm perhaps not gonna happen.

But again what I dont understand is people here on the forum as well as many Thais only talking about Thaksin corruption, I dont care how much money he stole from Thais, but I do care about those 3.000 + people who died in his war on drugs, so on one side you have former PM who is mass murderer on the other side young hansom guy who dont know what f#€k is going on in this country. My vote goes for less harm (Abhisit).

[barryofthailand]

[The delagates from the Asean Summet is staying at the Roral Cliff in Jomtien

Edited April 10, 2009 by barryofthailand

[WAERTH]

This morning the whole morning various Thai tv channels showed interviews with people affected by the reds protests.

Elderly that had to walk 2/3 kilometers before they could find a bus to go home. Students that were stranded because they have no money for other transportation. Sick people that couldn't leave the hospital because their family members couldn't pick them up at the hospital and many many more people.

All royally pissed off with the reds and Thaksin.

The nation news channel presenters worded it very very good just a few minutes ago, they used quite strong language:

Who the hel_l does Thaksin think he is. He has upset the life of tens of thousands and he asks them to be patient?? How would he feel if his family members would have to walk 2 kilometers to reach transport if they can barely walk? How would he feel if his children would have to sit in a bus for 3 hours while being hungry but having no money to buy food or a drink. But no the bastard (they said this literally on tv) takes his children out of the country for a holiday and shopping. So they will not be inconvenienced. He destroys our country only further with his games. Many older people who were in the busses didn't know why there were so many traffic jams and couldn't go anywhere.

Who does Somchai think he is when he asks the police not to use teargas and violence, while he himself used teargas and violence on protesters?

They went on for a few minutes with stories of people who suffered from the reds decision to take victory monument. It was the same on other tv channels.

I think that with this it is over for Thaksin and his movement. They have royally pissed of many people. So I think it will fizzle out after today.

Waerth

[samgrowth]

[The delagates from the Asean Summet is staying at the Roral Cliff in Jomtien

Thanks. This is very helpful indeed. Me and my family is heading there now.

[samgrowth]

This morning the whole morning various Thai tv channels showed interviews with people affected by the reds protests.

Elderly that had to walk 2/3 kilometers before they could find a bus to go home. Students that were stranded because they have no money for other transportation. Sick people that couldn't leave the hospital because their family members couldn't pick them up at the hospital and many many more people.

All royally pissed off with the reds and Thaksin.

The nation news channel presenters worded it very very good just a few minutes ago, they used quite strong language:

Who the hel_l does Thaksin think he is. He has upset the life of tens of thousands and he asks them to be patient?? How would he feel if his family members would have to walk 2 kilometers to reach transport if they can barely walk? How would he feel if his children would have to sit in a bus for 3 hours while being hungry but having no money to buy food or a drink. But no the bastard (they said this literally on tv) takes his children out of the country for a holiday and shopping. So they will not be inconvenienced. He destroys our country only further with his games. Many older people who were in the busses didn't know why there were so many traffic jams and couldn't go anywhere.

Who does Somchai think he is when he asks the police not to use teargas and violence, while he himself used teargas and violence on protesters?

They went on for a few minutes with stories of people who suffered from the reds decision to take victory monument. It was the same on other tv channels.

I think that with this it is over for Thaksin and his movement. They have royally pissed of many people. So I think it will fizzle out after today.

Waerth

I watch the same. You mean this clip?

[Pierrot]

One step out of line by the red-shirts ( Thaksin) and the army will shoot on the red shirts or whatever for they have absolutely nothing to lose now - THEY'RE IN TOTAL CONTROL -

And notice how the police said that they will deal with the protesters? Why did they not deal with the PAD when they caused billions of damages to Thailand? The military didn't step in when the PAD went to the streets, but they're quite willing now.

The way I see it, it's the following:

On one side:

- Thaksin.

- 55-60%+ of Thais (farmers, taxi drivers, aka the poor)

On the other side:

- Abhisit (aka puppet)

- Army

- Police

- 40-45% of Thais (probably 70%+ chinese, aka high class/elite)

Obviously you're an unfortunate victim of the PAD propaganda. Abhi is far from having total control of the army and the police, especially the police which was deeply humiliated during PAD protest and again lately.

Regarding the so called "elite", far from a a clear cut, it is also divided between the "traditionals" mostly in the administration and locally oriented business, pro-Abhi, and the international businessmen who are on Thaksin side (he is one of them, don't foget ). And then there are also some division that are, let's say, beyond discussion in this forum.

At the end, if Thaksin support were only the "uneducated poors" or the "rural idiots" as some nicely put it, the problem would have been solved long ago. Actually I believe that the democrats were themselves intoxicated by their own propaganda and they failed to realized that by focusing only on Thaksin, 1/ they didn't solve any of the problems that fuel the opposition to their party and 2/ they maintain Thaksin as an hero of this opposition. Very nice job ! If Thakin comes back to power, he will definitively greatly owe it to Sondhi and Abhi

But again what I dont understand is people here on the forum as well as many Thais only talking about Thaksin corruption, I dont care how much money he stole from Thais, but I do care about those 3.000 + people who died in his war on drugs, so on one side you have former PM who is mass murderer on the other side young hansom guy who dont know what f#€k is going on in this country. My vote goes for less harm (Abhisit).

Nice feelings but naive, only because you think Abhi is in control and you refuse to see the reality of who is really in charge.

[polecat]

I do care about those 3.000 + people who died in his war on drugs, so on one side you have former PM who is mass murderer

well said

[samgrowth]

I do care about those 3.000 + people who died in his war on drugs, so on one side you have former PM who is mass murderer

well said

Same thing is happening in Mexico right now. I wonder if the Mexican government is copying Thaksin? Or maybe Thaksin is the advisor?

Or is it OK if happen in Mexico, but not OK for Thailand? Because Mexican drug gets into the US, while Thai drug does not.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_Drug_War

Edited April 10, 2009 by samgrowth

[WAERTH]

This morning the whole morning various Thai tv channels showed interviews with people affected by the reds protests.

Elderly that had to walk 2/3 kilometers before they could find a bus to go home. Students that were stranded because they have no money for other transportation. Sick people that couldn't leave the hospital because their family members couldn't pick them up at the hospital and many many more people.

All royally pissed off with the reds and Thaksin.

The nation news channel presenters worded it very very good just a few minutes ago, they used quite strong language:

Who the hel_l does Thaksin think he is. He has upset the life of tens of thousands and he asks them to be patient?? How would he feel if his family members would have to walk 2 kilometers to reach transport if they can barely walk? How would he feel if his children would have to sit in a bus for 3 hours while being hungry but having no money to buy food or a drink. But no the bastard (they said this literally on tv) takes his children out of the country for a holiday and shopping. So they will not be inconvenienced. He destroys our country only further with his games. Many older people who were in the busses didn't know why there were so many traffic jams and couldn't go anywhere.

Who does Somchai think he is when he asks the police not to use teargas and violence, while he himself used teargas and violence on protesters?

They went on for a few minutes with stories of people who suffered from the reds decision to take victory monument. It was the same on other tv channels.

I think that with this it is over for Thaksin and his movement. They have royally pissed of many people. So I think it will fizzle out after today.

Waerth

I watch the same. You mean this clip?

So what is your point Sam .... he hit me so I am allowed to hit him back? What is that for a childish notion? I was against the pad occupying the airport and government house as well. The problem is as long as people think along those kind of medieval lines conflicts will never stop .... ever.

Get out of the eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth mindset. It is kinda old you know? Introduced by a person called Hammurabi .... remember him?

Waerth

[unforgiven]

Lovely, this will really endear the reds to Bangkokians.

a dose of their own medicine, since they rammed it down ours

seems Abhisit just has to learn the hard way

for all his intelligence and education, he should have seen this a MILE away, before he took on PM

no mater what happens Thaxin is finished and the more troulbe he causes the worse he'll get it

[bonnylad]

I hope chairman Mr T.Shin doesn't mobilize the most feared regiment in Asia (Pataya Baht Bus Drivers Regiment...They Motto: Pay up or die) and deploy it in Bangkok.Hopefully the Americans will put a Carrier group on stand by.

[denny1000]

^{You know folks, nobody forces us to live here.}

[Wolfie]

^{You know folks, nobody forces us to live here.}

Quite correct, we choose to live here... does this mean we loose the right to have an opinion on whats going on, and *shock horror* discuss these opinions on an ex-pat forum based on Thailand???

[Pierrot]

I do care about those 3.000 + people who died in his war on drugs, so on one side you have former PM who is mass murderer

well said

From The Nation is 2004, but the link is no longer valid

"People from 11 year-old kids to 60 year-old grandmas deal within the yabaa cycle. Some are addicted to it, some sell it and many take and sell it," said teacher Rampai Kakaew, who still recalls the drug crisis of 1997. "Yabaa trading was done openly at that time. Dealers would show (drug) money proudly in the fresh market. At weddings and community fairs, the drug was given to participants to make them keep on dancing all night long."

"Mothers give it to their kids so the boy can help sell it, like it was a family business," said Panjaphol Jampanil, 49, a teacher and resident of Ban Ahee. She/he added that 30 per cent of kids at his/her school have urine tested positively for yabaa. Police are faced with the difficulty of working around the close relationship between Thais in Ban Ahee and Lao in Chaiyaburi's Ban Nakaengma, on the opposite site of the river border. Suspects can easily slip into another country while being chased, and people in those communities will normally help hide someone on the run, according to local police.

According to teachers, in the past easy drug money created a deep impact in society as some fell into the trap of materialism. People competed with each other to build big houses, buy new cars and ignore the self sufficient living exhibited by the surrounding agricultural villages. This was a powerful factor that pushed kids into the drug trade, or other 'fast's way of making money.

Now I strongly suggest you go to these villages and tell those kids how sorry you are their drug dealer has been killed. Political propaganda has its limits !

Edited April 10, 2009 by Pierrot

[bungy007]

Impound the cars, how hard can it be?

The police here are inept for anything outside being part of the protection business for companies ( ) or blocking traffic so VIPs can go through unhindered...

You are so right except for a couple of skills which are missing; collecting fines for bogus traffic infringements/no motorcycle helmets and as hired hit men. It's why they are known as the brown mafia. Indeed, there is a Thai proverb that the wives of soldiers count empty bottles (beer or whiskey) while the wives of policemen (in its loosest form of the word) count money!

[h90]

I hope chairman Mr T.Shin doesn't mobilize the most feared regiment in Asia (Pataya Baht Bus Drivers Regiment...They Motto: Pay up or die) and deploy it in Bangkok.Hopefully the Americans will put a Carrier group on stand by.

yes they are ready to kill for 20-40 Baht :D

[LevelHead]

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/04/10...cs_30100143.php

Taxi drivers paralyse traffic around

By Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

Published on April 10, 2009

Traffic blockades appear not to have been ordered by protest leadersAds by Google

Victory Monument and surrounding roads - Bangkok's traffic centre - was shut down by hundreds of anti-government taxis drivers, motorcyclists and 5,000 protesters as they stepped up the pressure on the Abhisit Vejjajajiva administration and on privy council President Prem Tinsulanond to resign.

The immediate effect was a paralysis of Bangkok's traffic as more red-shirt Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD) protesters kept arriving in the evening and vowed to stay put until their goals were achieved.

The move appeared to have been spontaneous and without direct order from the DAAD leadership, suggesting the protest movement may have morphed into something more organic and multi-centred, making it more difficult for the government to deal with.

Pricha Jaibantad, 48, a taxi driver originally from Chiang Mai, said taxi drivers were communicating among themselves through intra-taxi communication channels and FM 107.5 taxi community radio. He said there was no obvious leader but the group was clear about its goals.

"We will shut more roads down," he said, adding that he and his peers would stay on until this government and Prem were ousted.

Asked if he was afraid of another military coup, a police crackdown or attack by the anti-Thaksin Shinawatra People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), he said no. "We're children of poor and grass-roots people, but we're not afraid."

By 5pm, protesters cheered as taxi radio broadcast Announcement No 2 from the DAAD leadership, that they would no longer recognise Abhisit as the legitimate prime minister of Thailand and that the protesters were urged to fight the government as if fighting "a group of outlawed bandits."

Two dozen taxis began the surprise move to block the Victory Monument shortly after 1pm and there were only 200 protesters by 2pm. But the number soon multiplied. Heavy rain poured down shortly after 6pm but failed to dampen the protest as hundreds marched and danced in the rain, singing and chanting as if it was some sort of carnival. Victory Monument is connected to four major roads and all were affected by the shutdown.

At nearby Sam Saen Delta, two dozen cabs were parked. Somboon Srisawang, a red-shirt protester said: "Let's paralyse Bangkok".

Onlookers mostly watched the protest in bewilderment and amusement - some were partial to it.

One woman on an elevated walkway, a beautician in her mid-thirties, was asked if she thought the protesters were hurting the economy and causing major traffic jams,replied:

"What about when those god-dam_n [PAD] took over the Government House and the aiports [last year]? Did they think of anybody else but themselves?" she said, adding that she's fed up with what she believes to be a double standard in Thai politics, as the PAD leaders are not in jail and whatever the PAD does is regarded as correct.

"Should we just accept that whatever they do is correct?"

Some protesters said the area would likely be the new protest centre as it was effective in bringing the government to its knees and larger and more convenient in accommodating protesters.

In the nearby Din Daeng expressway entrance, another group of taxi drivers combined forces with the so-called "educated red shirts", shutting down the expressway by the afternoon, saying they wanted to prevent the military or police from reaching Victory Monument. More were also marching near Hua Lampong train station in the evening as parts of Bangkok gradually became paralysed.

[bungy007]

Lovely, this will really endear the reds to Bangkokians.

a dose of their own medicine, since they rammed it down ours

seems Abhisit just has to learn the hard way

for all his intelligence and education, he should have seen this a MILE away, before he took on PM

I think he did. He's giving the red shirts enough rope to hang themselves. It's already working as the people of Bangkok are getting really miffed over the taxi blockade (deepens their loyalty to Abhisit). The people of Pattya who rely on tourism are feeling the same over the risk to their shaky incomes. All in all, I'd say its all going according to plan.

Thaksin has finally exposed himself as the sham he is by withdrawing his family from the whole country while egging on his misguided supporters and pushing them to risk the lives of their own families while he is laughing loud and long at a distance.

Not much left to keep the reds going.

[LevelHead]

I do care about those 3.000 + people who died in his war on drugs, so on one side you have former PM who is mass murderer

well said

All drug dealers should be put to death. Many Thai's like Thaksin because he had the will and strength to do this to the scum.

Why does the UK not have a referendum on the death penalty ? Simply because the softy liberal human rights loud mouths know that the majority of the people want it, and would have it come back tomorrow if they could have a referendum.

[bungy007]

^{You know folks, nobody forces us to live here.}

Duuhhh! Really?