Emergency Laws In Pattaya Lifted

[george]

Emergency laws in Pattaya lifted : PM

PATTAYA: -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the government decided to lift the emergency law in Pattaya after all leaders of the Asean Summit left the country safely.

The decision came after the law is imposed six hours ago after the red shirted protesters broke into the press hall of the Asean Summit in Pattaya.

Speaking in a press conference at the press centre in Pattaya at about 7.15pm. The laws were imposed 1.30pm.

-- The Nation 2009-04-11

[Scott]

Now he needs to lift the State of Lawlessness which has been plaguing the country for many months.

[george]

COMMENTARY

Round Two: Everyone Loses

By Tulsathit Taptim

Even though Thaksin Shinawatra may be laughing, there is no winner after the Pattaya infamy

Pattaya will lose billions of baht. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has lost his face, and his job is under greater threat. To other Thais, Songkran has been pretty much spoiled. Thailand's image as a whole has taken a new hit. Economically struggling Asean has to defer discussing some crucial plans. The red-shirted movement, while having achieved a key objective of preventing the Asean summit with dialogue partners, can't be content with the glaring truth that, like its rival People's Alliance for Democracy, it has become its own worst enemy.

And Thaksin Shinawatra will only get brief satisfaction from the turmoil in Pattaya that led to the cancellation of the summit and declaration of state of emergency which leaves everything hanging in the balance. He will be cheering a "triumph" of his supporters in the next address through video link, but deep down he must know that he is not fighting to win, that to get even is the best he can get. He has been way past of the point of no-return, and what happened in Pattaya on Saturday only serves to lengthen the distance between the man and his motherland.

The biggest loss, however, belongs to us, no matter what colours of the shirts we are wearing. The political divide was not about to be bridged any time soon, but the Pattaya incident has further dimmed the fragile hope. We had wanted things to improve, but now we would be glad if they don't get any worse.

It's been an-eye-for-an-eye showdown. You can seize Government House, so we can block city traffic. You can take over the airport, so we can torpedo an international summit. You fight for democracy that rejects corrupt polticians, we can fight for democracy that respects the voices of the poor.

A common sense of national values has been a long-time victim, who was beaten to near death on Saturday. The nation has lost its way for some time, and the Pattaya infamy ensures there will remain no light at the end of the tunnel in the foreseeable future. The vunerable national harmony has been dealt a new blow, and the threat to nationhood has never looked more real.

Those involved in the years-long power struggle have done their best to make sure that politics affects everyone's life. Too bad the general Thais have only been feeling the negative effects of a war that those responsible insisted was for a greater good. We have come to learn that perhaps people go into war not because they are different. Maybe what has been happening was caused by the fact that we are all too much alike.

-- The Nation 2009-04-11

[MeetJohnDoe]

Shortest SOE in history...Amazing Thailand.

Parties with 5 or more girls are back on!

Edited April 11, 2009 by MeetJohnDoe

[Oberkommando]

Now he needs to lift the State of Lawlessness which has been plaguing the country for many months.

Lawless except when it comes to dishing out ridiculously long punishments for thought crimes or offensive websites.

Edited April 11, 2009 by Oberkommando

[CrossBones]

The Nation are now calling this a WAR?

[jbhh]

I put the question up before and I say it again, can't anyone image that Aphisit let it come to this on purpose?

The difference between the criminal behavior by the red shirts and the criminal one last year by the yellow shirts is, that the yellow shirts were actually trying to force the courts to enforce the law while the red shirts are trying to overthrow a legitimate government. This gives the government the right to pretty do whatever is necessary to restore peace, and after today we can expect pretty serious actions.

I also said before, that the Leaders from the different countries who were attending the now canceled summit know very well about the Thai political situation and who is pulling whose strings and is acting upon whose interests.

sinewave said it quite well

Thaksin is showing his true colors to the delegates of the ASEAN summit, wasting their time and actually putting them in harms way.

ASEAN is for the good of the region, Thaksin is showing he has no disregard for the good of the region by disrupting the summit.

No disregard for anyone but himself.

There are times for everything, disrupting the ASEAN summit for the development of the region is not one of them. Policies are made at the summit and now the policies are put on hold because of Thaksin, I can't think of any delegate that would see any good in his actions, especialy during a looming world economic slowdown where policies are needed more than ever.

Aphisit's lack of action is correct, let the delegates feel the full flavor of Thaksin's wrath, the taste may just end up being too bitter to swallow.

If you were one of the delegates and felt at danger...who would you blame? the instigater or the protector?

you do not need a protector if there is no instigator.

They know Thaksin is the one behind the red shirts actions and they know that he is the one to blame for what happened at the summit today. You might all say Aphisit is weak or doesn't know what to do, I think he knows very well what he is doing or what will (did) happen if he is in fact not doing anything...

Edited April 11, 2009 by jbhh

[LevelHead]

Abhisit has lost lots of face.

He is now a object of ridicule around the world as an "incompetent" leader of a country.

He has no choice now but to stand down and take on an 'inactive position" for some time.

Without the pretty face puppet on the strings to front the old ugly beast, what will the Democrats do next ?

Will Newin now kiss and make up with Thaksin and become best buddies again, now he see's the governments power weakening fast. One thing far too many people on here forget is that while the "uneducated and unwashed" mass population think politicians hate each other...........

they all are in fact good friends just "playing politics", and they have no enemies as they will throughout their career swing here and there depending on which way the wind is blowing. Politics is about portraying hate of the others, but without actually having it yourself.

[LevelHead]

The Yellows were :

Trying to stop the changing of the new constitution, the unwanted one that went through just by way of what is potentially a very rigged referendum held under martial law in places.

Trying to remove democracy totally, and having an appointed government, so that peoples votes mean nothing, only the Elite would ever rule and they would never have to be subject to "peoples votes".

Do not see how that is "enforcing the law".

The Asean leaders do not care about Thaksin. They were TOLD IT WAS SAFE AND THE SUMMIT WOULD HAPPEN AND ABHISIT AND THE DEMOCRATS PROMISED THAT. They will now not be thinking about Thaksin, but thinking that Abhisit and the Democrats are not going to be around long, so ignore them from now on, and they cannot organise anything.

[stingray]

It was all about money. I wouldn't wonder if former yellow protesters are red shirts now. Many of our staffs and other workers i know, became offers between 1000 and 2000 Baht per person and day, to go there, got a red shirt from them and stay arround to protest a little bit. i guess most of the protesters don't care about politics anyway. They only go for the money. Where else they can get in 3 days between 3'000 and 6'000 Baht Salary? i think all the protests are a matter of how long the mob can support them.

Edited April 11, 2009 by stingray

[george]

Abhisit raps 'enemies of the state'

The government lifted the Emergency Decree in Pattaya and Chonburi after foreign delegates to the Asean summit left safely, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Saturday evening.

The prime minister in the afternoon announced a state of emergency after anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) protesters were able to break into the venue for hosting the 14th Asean Summit and related summits.

The decree was revoked after Asian leaders who attended the regional meetings left the country safely.

The situation had greatly damaged the national image and affected people's confidence in the country, he admitted.

Mr Abhisit said he considered the red shirts who declared victory from breaking up the summits as people with ill intentions towards the country.

They are "enemies of the state", and legal action must be taken against them, he said.

Previously, the UDD leaders said the group had triumphed after the Emergency Decree was enforced by the government.

-- Bangkok Post 2009-04-11

[jbhh]

The Yellows were :

Trying to stop the changing of the new constitution, the unwanted one that went through just by way of what is potentially a very rigged referendum held under martial law in places.

Trying to remove democracy totally, and having an appointed government, so that peoples votes mean nothing, only the Elite would ever rule and they would never have to be subject to "peoples votes".

Do not see how that is "enforcing the law".

The Asean leaders do not care about Thaksin. They were TOLD IT WAS SAFE AND THE SUMMIT WOULD HAPPEN AND ABHISIT AND THE DEMOCRATS PROMISED THAT. They will now not be thinking about Thaksin, but thinking that Abhisit and the Democrats are not going to be around long, so ignore them from now on, and they cannot organise anything.

The people did not demonstrate because they wanted the total agenda of the PAD to be fulfilled, part of it was not even voiced until MONTHS after the demonstrations started.

What they were demonstrating for was for the courts to act upon the vote buying which would (did) mean a dissolution of the P.P.P. and they stepped up the over 6 months long peaceful demonstrations after it was clear that the government was about to change the constitution to have this particular dissolution clause removed to save their owns necks.

Also you completely took "enforcing the law" out of the context, as I was not saying that the PAD was enforcing the law, the demonstration were trying to get the courts to do so.

[LuckyFive8888]

i have said in another forum that aphisit was weak, etc. but upon reading this thread i guess i now think that aphisit and the democrats are actually clever enough to have thaksin fall in their trap...

and so, i was discussing with my wife why the summit was organised in pattaya which is just 1.5 hours away from bangkok and that it is easily to mobilised the protesters, why not kho samui?

the thread above is the answer...

[punisher]

They know Thaksin is the one behind the red shirts actions and they know that he is the one to blame for what happened at the summit today. You might all say Aphisit is weak or doesn't know what to do, I think he knows very well what he is doing or what will (did) happen if he is in fact not doing anything...

What are u talking about?the only legitiomate and free elected government in Thailand was TRT with Mr,toxin as PM?Everything what came after are not legitimate governments

[Scott]

Yes, Abhisit is weak and ineffectual. He lacks decisiveness. First he assured everyone--including some important people whose security he was responsible for--that they were safe. Then he cancels (postpones) the summit, then lifts the SOE. Either he is really quite out of touch with things or his "handler" are feeding him to the wolves.

And it's quite sad because he is a nice person.

[noahvail]

The Asean leaders do not care about Thaksin. They were TOLD IT WAS SAFE AND THE SUMMIT WOULD HAPPEN AND ABHISIT AND THE DEMOCRATS PROMISED THAT. They will now not be thinking about Thaksin, but thinking that Abhisit and the Democrats are not going to be around long, so ignore them from now on, and they cannot organise anything.

I take it that you have direct knowledge of this. I don't, so I'm glad to become informed.

But if I were one of the ASEAN leaders, and listened to Mr. Abhisit's statement tonight, I would be anxiously awaiting his decision, perhaps as early as tomorrow night, as to how he will put an end to this unpleasantness.

[deprogrammed]

Good points - Abhisit is a very well educated guy. Although Thai, he was born and educated in the Uk. His degrees are genuine not bought or forged. I think he is well able to outsmart the criminal mob!

[jbhh]

... while the red shirts are trying to overthrow a legitimate government. This gives the government the right to pretty do whatever is necessary to restore peace, and after today we can expect pretty serious actions.

What are u talking about?the only legitiomate and free elected government in Thailand was TRT with Mr,toxin as PM?Everything what came after are not legitimate governments

Sorry but you need to get your facts straight. The current government is 100% legitimate. The current prime minister has been democratically elected by the Parliament.

I think what you mean is that the current government is not the one that was elected, as the P.P.P and it's coalition partners were ALL dissolved BY LAW because of vote buying.

The last legitimate and free elected government was in fact the one under the P.P.P. until the court ruling I just mentioned a couple of times.

[Lopburi99]

A government which is unable to maintain Law and Order? A impotent PM unable to call in the Armed Forces when required? How pathetic. We are witnessing Thailand doing itself in.

Another example that shows a pretty, articulate face and how little that actually means. Obama is the other. And so many were so excited. Guess again. Government chaos continues in Thailand, and socialism is coming to America. U.S. voters never knew they were actually voting in socialism. What crap is going on in both countries now. Hope seems light-years away.

[bobzillauk]

I know this is off topic, but why do the Thai Media lie to the Thai People for?

The reds went peacefully to meeting in pattaya, and they got ambushed by the blue's who were the only group carrying weapons.

I'm not a supporter, but as the human rights state, everyone has their right to protest peacefully, and the red's are being prevoked into voilence.

I have a feeling, that there may be a civil war going to kick of soon if this not sorted out soon.

They needs to let the people take vote, and the people need a government that will listen to voices of all thais, not just the rich or the poor, but all thais.

[Old Man River]

Good points - Abhisit is a very well educated guy. Although Thai, he was born and educated in the Uk. His degrees are genuine not bought or forged. I think he is well able to outsmart the criminal mob!

I am a big Abhisit supporter, but his intelligence won't help now. Other than the Blue shirts, there was really no other security at the hotel. Clearly, there was something else going on.

[BigSnake]

So the red shirts got Ambush by the blue shirts, maybe a little taste of their own medicine.

[jbhh]

The Asean leaders do not care about Thaksin. They were TOLD IT WAS SAFE AND THE SUMMIT WOULD HAPPEN AND ABHISIT AND THE DEMOCRATS PROMISED THAT. They will now not be thinking about Thaksin, but thinking that Abhisit and the Democrats are not going to be around long, so ignore them from now on, and they cannot organise anything.

I take it that you have direct knowledge of this. I don't, so I'm glad to become informed.

But if I were one of the ASEAN leaders, and listened to Mr. Abhisit's statement tonight, I would be anxiously awaiting his decision, perhaps as early as tomorrow night, as to how he will put an end to this unpleasantness.

Exactly what I am thinking, Abhisit may have lost face today, but he can make it all good by taking firm actions to pretect the country's stability against a group of people who are "out of control". and thanks to what happened today he has all the right to do so.

I find it amusing how people only look at the event itself and only at what the immediate reaction to it is, without looking into the future and what the current government "is forced" to do now to keep on being a government and maintaining peace and order... this whole thing is almost like a game of chess, and I think the reds are just a couple of steps away from losing this match by making such dumb moves like they did today.

Did anyone hear the latest "news", that the reds now claim that they FLED into the hotel because they were attacked outside... this is almost to weird to be true, what did someone call it "they live in lalaland"

Anyways, lets see what happens next in this exciting chess game, the next move will be Abhisit's.

Edited April 11, 2009 by jbhh

[edwardmoulton]

I see Abhisit was the first to run off from Pattaya according to the news very unlike a captain and leaving all his invited guests to comment why they ever accepted an invitation to Thailand under his stewardship. What a supreme coward and failure... Maybe skipping that military service left him with no backbone...

[ovenman]

I am educated to Master's level, I meet Abhisit and talk to him each year he attends the Oxford and Cambridge Dinner, I have a successful business here and I have a Thai family so I am not really the unwelcome-farang-type

I see Abhisit was the first to run off from Pattaya according to the news very unlike a captain and leaving all his invited guests to comment why they ever accepted an invitation to Thailand under his stewardship. What a supreme coward and failure... Maybe skipping that military service left him with no backbone...

You should bring up those insights the next time you're dining with him. Should make for great dinner conversation.

[edwardmoulton]

I AM SITTING HERE INENGLAND THINKING TO MYSELF WHAT DO THESE THUGS CALLED RED SHIRTS WANT AND I HAVE DECIDED THAT THE DO NOT WANT DEMOCRACY ONLY WAR.MR THASKIN IS ONLY NAFTER ONE THING COMPLETE CONTROL OF THAILAN.WHY ISNT THE ARMY OR POLICE STOPPING THESE THUGS AND I SALUTE THE LOCAL PEOPLE IN PATTAYA IN THEIR BRAVE STANCE.

I HAVE INVESTED A FAIR BIT OF MONEY INTO THAILAND BUT NO MORE.I LOVE THAILAND BUT I AM AFRAID THAILAND IS HEADING INTO CIVIL WAR.

DAVID BOULDING

Good points - Abhisit is a very well educated guy. Although Thai, he was born and educated in the Uk. His degrees are genuine not bought or forged. I think he is well able to outsmart the criminal mob!

I am a big Abhisit supporter, but his intelligence won't help now. Other than the Blue shirts, there was really no other security at the hotel. Clearly, there was something else going on.

Not really. He was born in the UK, went to Eton, a top school and gained a 1st in PPE from Oxford which makes him exceptionally well educated and undoubtedly infelligent but that does not infer common sense, morals or foresight.

[lor]

It was all about money. I wouldn't wonder if former yellow protesters are red shirts now. Many of our staffs and other workers i know, became offers between 1000 and 2000 Baht per person and day, to go there, got a red shirt from them and stay arround to protest a little bit. i guess most of the protesters don't care about politics anyway. They only go for the money. Where else they can get in 3 days between 3'000 and 6'000 Baht Salary? i think all the protests are a matter of how long the mob can support them.

You are exactly right! These demonstrations are not about what the Thai people want, it is just rich men playing political games for power. The people themselves are either too stupid or desperate for the money to care about what harm this does to their country and their economy.

Both my girlfriend and her mother were offered 2,000 baht each to put on a red shirt and stand around for a day in Pattaya. They both refused, not because of any political leanings but because they feared for their own safety.

Talking to my girlfriend she is of the opinion that all people in power are corrupt and steal, so if they can make a few thousand baht from their games. why not?

Chris

[ovenman]

He was born in the UK, went to Eton, a top school and gained a 1st in PPE from Oxford which makes him exceptionally well educated and undoubtedly infelligent but that does not infer common sense, morals or foresight. And he is Thai after all so no amount of time in the UK changes the genes....

Care to elaborate on that last sentence?

[jbhh]

i have said in another forum that aphisit was weak, etc. but upon reading this thread i guess i now think that aphisit and the democrats are actually clever enough to have thaksin fall in their trap...

and so, i was discussing with my wife why the summit was organised in pattaya which is just 1.5 hours away from bangkok and that it is easily to mobilised the protesters, why not kho samui?

the thread above is the answer...

They could have just continued having them in Hua Hin, it's not far away from Bangkok and I very much doubt the reds would have dared to pull that stunt here. We just had an Asean summit a couple of weeks ago, there is still signs up from it... the only "demonstration" that took place here was a pretty big crowed of people wearing the kings and queens shirts with big banner saying something along the lines of "Red Shirts stay away from the Asean Summit in Hua Hin", first I thought they were yellow shirts, until I noticed all the blue and pink shirts as well.

[Freddie_fly]

Ahh, so the reds had no weapons, thats funny because I watched channel 3 news today and they seemed to have just as many sticks and rocks and slingshots as the Blues.

I guess they just found them lying on the side of the road.

Freddie