Arrest Warrants Issued For 14 Red Shirt Leaders And Thaksin

[henryalleman]

I think there are a lot of lessons in history about who is in charge of the armies. Especially a lot of European countries in the past. But it is a symbiotic relationship, since you don't want your army mad at you.

I would like to have some examples from the last 100 years where the army had some symbiotic relationship in an European country. Even in WW2 the regular army(Wehrmacht) was under full control of Hitler.

[donx]

No winners in Thailand's crisis By Jonathan Head

BBC News, Bangkok

Nobody won. That is the only conclusion that can be drawn from the chaotic events in Thailand over the past few days.

Certainly not the red-shirted United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), whose attempted uprising degenerated into a series of chaotic clashes with the army that left a wake of destruction on the streets of Bangkok.

Not Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva either. Although he clawed back a lot of his authority through the successful military operation to disperse the UDD protesters, the promise he made on taking office four months ago to promote reconciliation in his country now looks hollow.

Not the army, which carried out the unpleasant task of clearing the streets with growing confidence, and surprisingly light casualties.

Its decision to suppress these protesters, when it did nothing about the equally damaging actions of the yellow-shirted People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) last year, makes a mockery of its claim to be a neutral force.

That and the 2006 coup that deposed Thaksin Shinawatra have irrevocably tarnished its image with a sizable part of the Thai population.

Not the police, who are now such a diminished and demoralised force that almost no-one in Thailand expected them to play any role in the recent disorder.

When confronted by a few thousand unarmed protesters at the Asian summit in Pattaya, they offered only token resistance. In Bangkok they were essentially invisible. Without a functioning police force, the rule of law that Mr Abhisit has talked of so often becomes very precarious.

And finally, not Thaksin Shinawatra, whose melodramatic call for a people's uprising fell flat, and who is still stuck in exile, without a secure place of refuge.

Polarising figure

Three years of intractable political conflict are taking a debilitating toll on Thailand. Emotions are now very raw.

Some of the ugliest scenes in recent days did not involve the army; they occurred when local residents came out to confront the rampaging red-shirts. Shots were fired, two people died, and some were savagely beaten.

It is difficult to explain why Thailand, a country once seen as a paragon of stability and social harmony, has become so polarised.

The division between Red and Yellow cuts across many lines; it is not simply just rural-versus-urban, or poor-versus-rich. Spend long enough with either group and you meet people from very varied backgrounds.

But there is one issue that clearly divides the two camps.

That issue is Thaksin Shinawatra, the man who shattered the traditional mould of Thai politics through his brilliant campaigns, winning him two record election victories in 2001 and 2005.

Not all the Reds love this brash and controversial figure.

But they pretty much all think he was unjustly removed from office by the 2006 coup, and that the various legal cases brought against him - he was sentenced to two years in jail in absentia last year for an abuse of power - are without merit.

They also believe in the power of his populist agenda, the key to his party's mass following.

Not just because it improved the lot of the rural poor - economists have questioned the efficiency and long-term benefit of many of his policies - but because for the first time it gave poorer Thais a sense that their vote mattered, that voting for a particular policy platform could bring you tangible benefits.

This approach politicised a previously neglected class of people in Thailand, and made them a powerful, new force.

These people are the reason Mr Thaksin did so well in elections, and the reason his allies were returned to office in 2007, in the first election held after the coup, even though Mr Thaksin and 110 of his top party officials were banned from running.

They are now the mass base of the red-shirt movement. And they believe, passionately, that their side has been treated unfairly.

Festering grievances

The many, well-founded criticisms made of Mr Thaksin's style of government do not affect that view: that he was autocratic, fatally weakening Thailand's fragile democratic institutions; that he presided over a sharp escalation of human rights violations; that corruption continued to flourish under his administrations; that he shamelessly promoted on the basis of loyalty, not competence.

These are points made tirelessly by the PAD during their anti-Thaksin protests last year, and they are hard to refute.

But because so many poorer Thais saw this flawed politician as their champion, they resented it bitterly when forces aligned with the wealthy elite decided to bend the rules to kick him out of office.

It was ultra-royalist generals who led the coup. But they were cheered on by conservative judges and bureaucrats, wealthy business tycoons and many urban, middle-class Thais. Mr Thaksin's followers felt robbed.

That sense of being robbed continued last year when they saw the governments they had voted for harried by the PAD, and then disqualified by bizarre court decisions.

And they felt patronised when PAD activists said - as they did repeatedly - that the only reason the poor voted for Mr Thaksin was because he had bribed them to.

These grievances continue to fester, and deepen the divide in Thai society.

Go to a red-shirt rally and you will hear the same mantra; "We are grass-roots people, fighting for democracy, against the ruling class".

Go to a yellow-shirt rally and you will almost inevitably hear a different mantra; "We are educated people, fighting against corrupt politicians who abuse democracy".

There appear to be no towering, Obama-like figures in Thailand, who can win the respect of both camps. Certainly not Mr Abhisit, who often looks uncomfortably out of place in the rural, red heartlands of the north and north-east.

How he deals with the leaders of the "red uprising" now - and how that compares with the treatment given to last year's "yellow uprising" - will be an important test of his promise to uphold the rule of law impartially.

So the conflict which erupted so spectacularly in Bangkok and Pattaya over the past week will probably rumble on, steadily eroding the confidence of investors, tourists and the Thai people, in a stable future for their country.

Story from BBC NEWS:

What an excellent, well-balance overview of the situation in Thailand today.

[blackman]

No winners in Thailand's crisis By Jonathan Head

BBC News, Bangkok

Nobody won. That is the only conclusion that can be drawn from the chaotic events in Thailand over the past few days.

Certainly not the red-shirted United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), whose attempted uprising degenerated into a series of chaotic clashes with the army that left a wake of destruction on the streets of Bangkok.

Not Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva either. Although he clawed back a lot of his authority through the successful military operation to disperse the UDD protesters, the promise he made on taking office four months ago to promote reconciliation in his country now looks hollow.

Not the army, which carried out the unpleasant task of clearing the streets with growing confidence, and surprisingly light casualties.

Its decision to suppress these protesters, when it did nothing about the equally damaging actions of the yellow-shirted People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) last year, makes a mockery of its claim to be a neutral force.

That and the 2006 coup that deposed Thaksin Shinawatra have irrevocably tarnished its image with a sizable part of the Thai population.

Not the police, who are now such a diminished and demoralised force that almost no-one in Thailand expected them to play any role in the recent disorder.

When confronted by a few thousand unarmed protesters at the Asian summit in Pattaya, they offered only token resistance. In Bangkok they were essentially invisible. Without a functioning police force, the rule of law that Mr Abhisit has talked of so often becomes very precarious.

And finally, not Thaksin Shinawatra, whose melodramatic call for a people's uprising fell flat, and who is still stuck in exile, without a secure place of refuge.

Polarising figure

Three years of intractable political conflict are taking a debilitating toll on Thailand. Emotions are now very raw.

Some of the ugliest scenes in recent days did not involve the army; they occurred when local residents came out to confront the rampaging red-shirts. Shots were fired, two people died, and some were savagely beaten.

It is difficult to explain why Thailand, a country once seen as a paragon of stability and social harmony, has become so polarised.

The division between Red and Yellow cuts across many lines; it is not simply just rural-versus-urban, or poor-versus-rich. Spend long enough with either group and you meet people from very varied backgrounds.

But there is one issue that clearly divides the two camps.

That issue is Thaksin Shinawatra, the man who shattered the traditional mould of Thai politics through his brilliant campaigns, winning him two record election victories in 2001 and 2005.

Not all the Reds love this brash and controversial figure.

But they pretty much all think he was unjustly removed from office by the 2006 coup, and that the various legal cases brought against him - he was sentenced to two years in jail in absentia last year for an abuse of power - are without merit.

They also believe in the power of his populist agenda, the key to his party's mass following.

Not just because it improved the lot of the rural poor - economists have questioned the efficiency and long-term benefit of many of his policies - but because for the first time it gave poorer Thais a sense that their vote mattered, that voting for a particular policy platform could bring you tangible benefits.

This approach politicised a previously neglected class of people in Thailand, and made them a powerful, new force.

These people are the reason Mr Thaksin did so well in elections, and the reason his allies were returned to office in 2007, in the first election held after the coup, even though Mr Thaksin and 110 of his top party officials were banned from running.

They are now the mass base of the red-shirt movement. And they believe, passionately, that their side has been treated unfairly.

Festering grievances

The many, well-founded criticisms made of Mr Thaksin's style of government do not affect that view: that he was autocratic, fatally weakening Thailand's fragile democratic institutions; that he presided over a sharp escalation of human rights violations; that corruption continued to flourish under his administrations; that he shamelessly promoted on the basis of loyalty, not competence.

These are points made tirelessly by the PAD during their anti-Thaksin protests last year, and they are hard to refute.

But because so many poorer Thais saw this flawed politician as their champion, they resented it bitterly when forces aligned with the wealthy elite decided to bend the rules to kick him out of office.

It was ultra-royalist generals who led the coup. But they were cheered on by conservative judges and bureaucrats, wealthy business tycoons and many urban, middle-class Thais. Mr Thaksin's followers felt robbed.

That sense of being robbed continued last year when they saw the governments they had voted for harried by the PAD, and then disqualified by bizarre court decisions.

And they felt patronised when PAD activists said - as they did repeatedly - that the only reason the poor voted for Mr Thaksin was because he had bribed them to.

These grievances continue to fester, and deepen the divide in Thai society.

Go to a red-shirt rally and you will hear the same mantra; "We are grass-roots people, fighting for democracy, against the ruling class".

Go to a yellow-shirt rally and you will almost inevitably hear a different mantra; "We are educated people, fighting against corrupt politicians who abuse democracy".

There appear to be no towering, Obama-like figures in Thailand, who can win the respect of both camps. Certainly not Mr Abhisit, who often looks uncomfortably out of place in the rural, red heartlands of the north and north-east.

How he deals with the leaders of the "red uprising" now - and how that compares with the treatment given to last year's "yellow uprising" - will be an important test of his promise to uphold the rule of law impartially.

So the conflict which erupted so spectacularly in Bangkok and Pattaya over the past week will probably rumble on, steadily eroding the confidence of investors, tourists and the Thai people, in a stable future for their country.

Story from BBC NEWS:

they should pull jonathan head's passport and deport him

maybe a name change to Richard should be considered.......

[webfact]

Veera, Natthawut, Weng brought to Criminal Court

Police Thursday sought the Criminal Court's permission for extending detention of three red-shirted movement leaders.

Veera Musigapong, Natthawut Saikua and Weng Tojitrakarn were brought to the Criminal Court at 7 am amid tight security provided by two companies of policemen.

Troops also surrounded the court's compound on Ratchada Road.

So far, no red-shirted people showed up to rally.

- THE NATION -

[animatic]

There's no doubt Thaksin is savvy and was once an effective politician but bottom line is the guy has gone bonkers. His ego and lust for power has made him into an impatient fool. If he was smart his best move would have been to wait for the economy and time to take its toll on the current gov't and wait for an election. Instead he has accelerated the situation as a result of his own greed and paranoia and simply blew it! Now the people of Bangkok will never see him elected and if smart the disgruntled in Isaan will look for another leader or a party with a real agenda.

His impatience prodded by the July court dates about his frozen assets.

Make no mistake, money is power and he he NEEDS power to feed his ego.

Bonkers, ting tong, borderline-pick a disorder, they guy goes bad under pressure.

The fact that he rationalizes this weekends actions as justifiable speaks volumes.

The impending lose of his cash pile has pushed the issue quite predictably.

The problem is, they can NOT, EVER, let him have that much cash because

that is enough to actually buy a complete insurrection,

and INSTALL AN UNSTABLE, VENGEFUL MAN at the helm,

just as a critical juncture of the country's history is approaching.

It is a non-starter.

He will not be allowed to gain that much hedgmony over Thailand again.

End of story.

[animatic]

The military are firmly on the side of the yellows and the military controls the country--they act when they want to act. When it comes to acting against the reds, they did so. Abhisit is merely a puppet--and that is becoming clearer all the time. He's a nice puppet, a smart puppet and a well educated puppet--but a puppet none-the-less.

You nailed it man. It is exactly as it is. Short, accurate and clear, no need for long debates Just one remark, anyway someone is controlling the army. Who is it ????

General Prem of course who is the most powerful man in Thailand and at odds with Thaksin. So far the score is 3:0 for Prem.

Actually it is strange that nobody talks about his influence on this forum. Ask any Thai and they tell you that army listens to Prem ALWAYS!

There is a famous photo of Prem, Anupong and Thaksin

and you can clearly see who wais deeper. Thaksin.

Clearly the supplicant trying to make points and keep his job.

He came up wanting.

3 : 0 Prem? Oh at the very least.

Edited April 16, 2009 by animatic

[bertlamar]

Let us not forget that this whole episode is a result of a military invasion of Bkk for which no-one has been charged - and that was a treasonable action which overthrew a democratically elected government in direct violation of the Thai constitution.

Let me correct that mistake for you.

I think what you mean is 'overthrew a not democratically elected stand in government who were found to have run a voided election in 2006 under the 1997 constitution and were later proven (and confirmed by most objective people) that they paid minor parties to stand against them and in a number of seats were unable to win sufficient votes standing unopposed to fill the house'

Do agree the military and the PAD should be prosecuted...however that is the judiciary, not the recently appointed PM in the current democratically elected house of representatives (every single one democractically elected incidently, and thus truly the representatives of the people, unlike the ousted 2006 government).

As for Jonathon Head's summary, it is hard to think of a more biased commentator other than watching ASTV (hysterically PAD) or that stupid Democracy channel (hysterically red).

To compare the PAD mob with this mob is ludicrious.

At no point other than when being attacked by other mobs did the PAD engage in the terrorist tactics of invading neighbourhoods, burning vehicles and threatening the Dindaeng area with a huge bomb. The red shirts' rampage was so unacceptable and so hugely unpopular with the citizens of Bangkok (and Chonburi) that it is hard to believe anyone could ompare the two.

I don't think the claim of the red shirts (or Jonathon) that the thaksin govt was the only one to look after them has any merit, given that the current administration is continuing many of the same stupid policies of giveaways to the poor that they seem to love so much - the only one that Thaksin never did and neither have this lot is fixing the education system for the poor; but even the current mob have given more subsidies than ever to keep people in school etc. no far from it, I suspect the red shirts believe that somehow Thaksin had a mystical ability to drive up the commodity prices (which is what happens in a global boom) making them richer, and somehow the current government is screwing them over (when in fact it is just worldwide cyclical pricing trends) - after all they also believe other myths like the magic of Thaksin being able to pay back the IMF, the magic of getting rid of rural poverty, getting rid of traffic in Bangkok in 6 months, etc etc.

Of course....both sides should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law for what they did.

Edited April 16, 2009 by bertlamar

[manjara]

Having lived in Thailand for the most part of the last 7 years, and now finding myself fairly firmly in the yellow camp, I found myself wondering why I sympathise with yellow and not red?

Why do I dislike Thaksin and his subsequent puppet parties?

I think the turning point for me was when Thaksin announced that Thailand (the country) was considering buying Liverpool football club! The complete incongruity of a country owning a soccer club, and especially given Thaksin's own desire to have one, made me think that he was not running the country for the good of the people, but in fact, was running it as an extension of his own company.

He was just using the poor to cement his position. Sure, like every manager knows, you need to take care of your workers, but only for your own ends, you don't want them to take your position, only be loyal to you.

The people in power in Thailand saw that Thaksin was effectively taking over Thailand and they naturally did not like the way things were going.

I am inclined to agree with Jonathan Head, that this will simmer on and on, dragging Thailand further down a route of political instability and greater power to the army, but to make out that Thaksin & reds are the friends of the poor and the yellows are the establishment and upper classes is nonsense. Thaksin used the poor to gain power and control, but his policies were merely to keep them in line.

[Jai Dee]

Three UDD core-leaders to be detained at Criminal Court

Investigative officials have brought the three convicted core-leaders of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) today (April 16) to the Criminal Court in order to seek permission for a 12-day extension of their detention period.

The red-shirted trio, comprising Mr. Veera Musikapong, Mr. Natthawut Saikua and Dr. Weng Tojirakarn, were brought to the Ratchada Criminal Court at 7 am amid tight security provided by two companies of policemen and three companies of soldiers in the surrounding of the court's compound. Their appearance was for the police to seek permission to detain them for 12 more days at the Court with no allowance of bail before incarcerating them at the Bangkok Remand Prison for further interrogation.

Despite the tight security control, supporters of the three convicts gradually congregated in front of the Criminal Court with red accessories, such as caps and scarves, in place of the much controversial red shirts.

Upon their submission to arrest on April 14, the three UDD core-leaders received their charges on gathering more than 10 people to cause riot in the country and inciting them to break the law. Mr. Veera was then temporarily put behind bars at Border Patrol Police Region 1 Headquarters in Pathum Thani while Mr. Natthawut and Dr. Weng were detained at the Naresuan military camp in Phetchaburi and Border Patrol Police Headquarters in Kanchanaburi respectively.

Source: National News Bureau of Thailand - 16 April 2009

[Jai Dee]

2 Puea Thai MPs attempt to bail out 3 UDD core leaders

Two Puea Thai Members of Parliament (MP) filed a request to use their MP position to bail out the three United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) core leaders while the trio were sent to Criminal Court for consideration to extend the 12 days detention period at Bangkok Remand Prison.

After the completion of the 48-hour detention period, Inquiry officials took the three UDD core leaders to the Criminal Court to seek permission to extend the 12-day detention period. The trio UDD core leaders, including Mr Weera Musikapong, Mr Nattawut Siakua and MD Weng Tojirakarn, were now in the consideration process of the court.

Two Puea Thai MPs Karun Hosakul and Manit Jitjanklab, accompanied by UDD supporters filed a request to use their MP positions to bail out the trio. However, correction department officials have prepared a vehicle to take the trio to Bangkok Remand Prison for imprisonment immediately if the court permitted the detention.

Meanwhile, the process of the court went on amid tight securities of one company of police from Metropolitan Police Bureau 2 at the stairs heading up to the Criminal Court while another one company of riot police were stationed all the gates of the court. Entry to and Exit from the court were also blocked with army troops watching over the security around the court to prevent any attempt of the UDD supporters to come in.

Source: National News Bureau of Thailand - 16 April 2009

[Jai Dee]

Thai court issues arrest warrants for 36 more protesters

Thai local police said the court has issued arrest warrants for 36 more anti-government protesters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), Thaimedia reported.

According to Thai News Agency's website, Pol. Maj-Gen. Pramote Pathumwong, deputy commissioner of Provincial Police Region 2, said arrest warrants were issued for 14 red-shirted protesters who stormed into the hotel in the resort of Pattaya on April 11, which was hosting the ASEAN summit and related summits, scheduled on April 10-12.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva decided to cancel the summit immediately after the incident.

Warrants were also issued for 12 UDD protesters who attacked Abhisit's car on April 7 after he left a Cabinet meeting at the same Pattaya hotel. The prime minister who had just finished the Cabinet meeting there was unhurt.

The court issued arrest warrants for the remaining 10 UDD protesters on charges of attacking the prime minister's car inside the Interior Ministry compound on Sunday and severely injuring Nipon Prompan, Secretary-General to the prime minister, Thai News Agency quoted Gen. Pramote as saying.

All the suspects above were charged with illegal assembly of more than ten persons, inciting unrest in the country, and trespassing on and damaging government property.

Source: Xinhua - 16 April 2009

[gymboy33]

Thai court issues arrest warrants for 36 more protesters

Thai local police said the court has issued arrest warrants for 36 more anti-government protesters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), Thaimedia reported.

According to Thai News Agency's website, Pol. Maj-Gen. Pramote Pathumwong, deputy commissioner of Provincial Police Region 2, said arrest warrants were issued for 14 red-shirted protesters who stormed into the hotel in the resort of Pattaya on April 11, which was hosting the ASEAN summit and related summits, scheduled on April 10-12.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva decided to cancel the summit immediately after the incident.

Warrants were also issued for 12 UDD protesters who attacked Abhisit's car on April 7 after he left a Cabinet meeting at the same Pattaya hotel. The prime minister who had just finished the Cabinet meeting there was unhurt.

The court issued arrest warrants for the remaining 10 UDD protesters on charges of attacking the prime minister's car inside the Interior Ministry compound on Sunday and severely injuring Nipon Prompan, Secretary-General to the prime minister, Thai News Agency quoted Gen. Pramote as saying.

All the suspects above were charged with illegal assembly of more than ten persons, inciting unrest in the country, and trespassing on and damaging government property.

Source: Xinhua - 16 April 2009

doest people think its a joke and unfair that the courts bang the reds up and throw away the key! and the yellows get away with doing the same things!!!

[Thanh-BKK]

doest people think its a joke and unfair that the courts bang the reds up and throw away the key! and the yellows get away with doing the same things!!!

Get it into your HEAD, man... the yellows did NOT do the same! No burning buses! No killed bystanders! No smashed up cars! No attack on the PM! No crashed international summit! No gas tankers in front of apartment building and threats to blow them up! And no buses driven into soldiers either!

Some people just don't WANT to see the truth it seems. Maybe they lost a couple hundred Baht during the (entirely peaceful and free of any damage whatsoever!) airport blockade by the yellows.

By the way is it legal in this country to hijack a public bus and set it on fire? They should go after those people who did that as well. I could imagine that those clean, air conditioned orange buses cost a bit of money, too.

In case it's legal i'll go and get me one, too. I ever wanted a bus

Best regards.....

Thanh

[ballpoint]

doest people think its a joke and unfair that the courts bang the reds up and throw away the key! and the yellows get away with doing the same things!!!

Firstly, complain to the government at the time of the yellow protests, it was their responsibility to arrest them at the time. You can't be seriously complaining that this government is doing a better job of keeping order than the last?

Secondly, what same things? I don't recall the yellows setting fire to buses and using them to try and kill soldiers? Or rampaging through the city killing innocent people? Or bringing LPG tankers into residential areas and threatening to blow them up? Were Samak or Somchai's cars ever smashed and the drivers dragged out and beaten? The only joke is that the Thaksinistas seem to seriously believe their deluded, oft repeated, ramblings. And it's rather a pathetic joke at that.

[pammy123]

What about the yellows, i guess their crimes are forgiven as they put the current government in place. HYPOCRYTES that cant be trusted

[lannarebirth]

What about the yellows, i guess their crimes are forgiven as they put the current government in place. HYPOCRYTES that cant be trusted

Don't you people ever read a newspaper?

[chowder]

What about the yellows, i guess their crimes are forgiven as they put the current government in place. HYPOCRYTES that cant be trusted

i didn't see the PAD burning busses, attacking resident, gas truck, damaging car, among other criminal thing. have you seen it?

[rixalex]

What about the yellows, i guess their crimes are forgiven as they put the current government in place. HYPOCRYTES that cant be trusted

If you are looking for hypocrites, you don't have to go very far. Two questions:

1) Did you condemn the yellows for their airport protest?

2) Are you now condemning the reds for their assault on the city?

[Thanh-BKK]

Airport, airport, airport.

That's all the Thaksinistas can hide behind. "The Airport Blockade".

There wasn't even a WINDOW broken at the airport. Nobody broke as much as a FINGERNAIL. And if someone is to be prosecuted for "The Airport Blockade" then it's the airport workers who peacefully handed it over without such action being demanded from the yellows.

Get your facts straight.

Of course, if money is more important than lives, keep going with condemning the yellows for "The Airport Blockade".

Regards

Thanh

Edited April 16, 2009 by Thanh-BKK

[Scott]

This is like arguing whose better, a rapist or a murderer.

This whole mess should have been stopped when it first started and that was with the PAD. Had it been the Red's first, then it should have been stopped with them. It's one thing to demonstrate. It's a whole other issue to block roads, block access to public buildings, to block airports, to burn busses etc.

[ballpoint]

This is like arguing whose better, a rapist or a murderer.

This whole mess should have been stopped when it first started and that was with the PAD. Had it been the Red's first, then it should have been stopped with them. It's one thing to demonstrate. It's a whole other issue to block roads, block access to public buildings, to block airports, to burn busses etc.

Precisely, and who was the government, and therefore responsible for stopping them, when the PAD were protesting? The fact that this government was able to end the red protest, something the PPP one was unable to do with the yellows, reflects well on it.

[plachon]

I'm really surprised that the BBC retain Head as their BKK reporter. He's hardly their "man on the ground" as he fails to ever get further than his own condo balcony or cocktails at the FCCT and is clearly out of touch with the diversity and variety in political positions within Thailand. He clearly tied his own position to the Red mast long ago and looks vaguely ridiculous for his lack of balance and insight on the Thai political scene. My own suspicion is that he got into bed (hopefully only figuratively speaking) with Jakrapob Penkair at some point in the past and allowed himself to be swayed by the Thaksin line (let's face it, Jakrapob is a very accomplished liar, only surpassed perhaps by his Master) and some "greater goal" to the TRT bandwaggon beyond the cementing of the Shinawatra and cronies political and financial fortunes.

Frankly, Head now has the credibility of a Redshirt left-wing "intellectual", who has consistently missed the point and the boat about what is happening in Thailand and the deeper consequences of prolonging the Thaksin myth bandwaggon.

[animatic]

What about the yellows, i guess their crimes are forgiven as they put the current government in place. HYPOCRYTES that cant be trusted

Don't you people ever read a newspaper?

It would appear not often.

[chrislarsson]

Having lived in Thailand for the most part of the last 7 years, and now finding myself fairly firmly in the yellow camp, I found myself wondering why I sympathise with yellow and not red?

Why do I dislike Thaksin and his subsequent puppet parties?

Why do u have to choose either camp? For Thailand to move forward it needs to find a leader who can rise above the yellow and red divide.

Look at the ideology of PAD?

1. They want to alter the monarchies status. An institution that is already very powerful and without accountability.

2. They are very nationalistic. They have called for Thai investors to withdraw from Cambodia, and want to ban all flights going there.

3. They favor limits on Foreign Investment, and opposes privatization of state enterprises

In general, they seem to want the status quo to remain, i.e. keeping the rich rich, and the poor poor.

Is this in the interest of Thailand or just a privileged minority?

[animatic]

Airport, airport, airport.

That's all the Thaksinistas can hide behind. "The Airport Blockade".

There wasn't even a WINDOW broken at the airport. Nobody broke as much as a FINGERNAIL. And if someone is to be prosecuted for "The Airport Blockade" then it's the airport workers who peacefully handed it over without such action being demanded from the yellows.

Get your facts straight.

Of course, if money is more important than lives, keep going with condemning the yellows for "The Airport Blockade".

Regards

Thanh

Yes money or lives.

Which do YOU value most?

At most times of the last several years, the PAD stayed loud, but non-aggressive

until provoked by violent actions from the Thaksin camps.

They never got guards until getting beatings from red shirts for

daring to open their mouths and speak.

I observed the PAD, over years, escalated their positions and actions

ONLY in direct responses to Red Shirt and TRT / PPP sponsored violent actions against them.

And then sat again, quietly, and kept on their course, with better defense, until the next attack.

Going back to well BEFORE Thaksin was deposed.

Other wise they were just the loud annoying dog, barking at the lurking thief in the night.

Edited April 16, 2009 by animatic

[animatic]

I'm really surprised that the BBC retain Head as their BKK reporter. He's hardly their "man on the ground" as he fails to ever get further than his own condo balcony or cocktails at the FCCT and is clearly out of touch with the diversity and variety in political positions within Thailand. He clearly tied his own position to the Red mast long ago and looks vaguely ridiculous for his lack of balance and insight on the Thai political scene. My own suspicion is that he got into bed (hopefully only figuratively speaking) with Jakrapob Penkair at some point in the past and allowed himself to be swayed by the Thaksin line (let's face it, Jakrapob is a very accomplished liar, only surpassed perhaps by his Master) and some "greater goal" to the TRT bandwaggon beyond the cementing of the Shinawatra and cronies political and financial fortunes.

Frankly, Head now has the credibility of a Redshirt left-wing "intellectual", who has consistently missed the point and the boat about what is happening in Thailand and the deeper consequences of prolonging the Thaksin myth bandwaggon.

No argument here.

I have seen decent reporting from him.

But none of it was about Thailand.

[chrislarsson]

Airport, airport, airport.

That's all the Thaksinistas can hide behind. "The Airport Blockade™".

There wasn't even a WINDOW broken at the airport. Nobody broke as much as a FINGERNAIL. And if someone is to be prosecuted for "The Airport Blockade™" then it's the airport workers who peacefully handed it over without such action being demanded from the yellows.

Get your facts straight.

Of course, if money is more important than lives, keep going with condemning the yellows for "The Airport Blockade™".

Regards

Thanh

Stop being so naive.

"Government House has suffered the worst. Early estimates of the damage there put it at about three-quarters of a million US dollars, and the amount is likely to climb much higher. Large quantities of valuables have gone missing, including televisions, cameras and religious amulets. Many of these were personal items that staff kept at their desks. Furniture has been wantonly slashed, wallpaper ripped down and windows smashed. Four vehicles were stolen, and so far only one is known to have been recovered. It is not only material damage. A photograph in the Bangkok Post newspaper showed a computer terminal still on the desk with the hard drive ripped out. It is not yet known how much official data may have been removed and what sort of risks may be posed from it falling into private hands, but apparently many computers, drives and documents are missing. The loss of valuable information, even if not confidential, will greatly hamper the ability of bureaucrats to perform their jobs and further inconvenience the general public as well as anyone dealing with the government machinery. Guns also have been taken from armouries and may be among the weapons used to fire upon government supporters, journalists and bystanders during various incidents in the last week."

http://www.prachatai.net/english/node/888

[grandpops]

Airport, airport, airport.

That's all the Thaksinistas can hide behind. "The Airport Blockade™".

There wasn't even a WINDOW broken at the airport. Nobody broke as much as a FINGERNAIL. And if someone is to be prosecuted for "The Airport Blockade™" then it's the airport workers who peacefully handed it over without such action being demanded from the yellows.

Get your facts straight.

Of course, if money is more important than lives, keep going with condemning the yellows for "The Airport Blockade™".

Regards

Thanh

Pardon us for parting your yellow mist. The Airport and Gov house blockade did happen and were supported by the Army and the Democrats.

Sorry if you missed it but it was the highlight on every news outlet in the world over a two month period.

Inconvenient but true.

Brainwashing of PAD tag team.. No no no. All it took was a quick rinse by the looks of things on here.

[LawnGnome]

Airport, airport, airport.

That's all the Thaksinistas can hide behind. "The Airport Blockade™".

There wasn't even a WINDOW broken at the airport. Nobody broke as much as a FINGERNAIL. And if someone is to be prosecuted for "The Airport Blockade™" then it's the airport workers who peacefully handed it over without such action being demanded from the yellows.

Get your facts straight.

Of course, if money is more important than lives, keep going with condemning the yellows for "The Airport Blockade™".

Regards

Thanh

Pardon us for parting your yellow mist. The Airport and Gov house blockade did happen and were supported by the Army and the Democrats.

Sorry if you missed it but it was the highlight on every news outlet in the world over a two month period.

Inconvenient but true.

Brainwashing of PAD tag team.. No no no. All it took was a quick rinse by the looks of things on here.

So, the continual obsession about it, will accomplish...?

[grandpops]

Just a quick question to all PAD supporters.

Were three airports blockaded last year and hundreds of thousands of people inconvenienced, tons of airfreithg left to rot or not?

Was Government house blockaded or not?

Please if it didn't happen tell me and perhaps we can move on. If it did happen, it is relevant to todays mess and not going to go away.

Thaksin just popped up on Thai TV with a new passport by the look of it so you will have to dream on for a while yet about him having to participate in a show trial under this Army leadership.

Enjoy the PAD celebrations in Phuket. At least the thousands of owners of empty hotels, guest houses, restaurants and bars know where to go and thank them this weekend.

I'd fly down there for the weekend, but if Thaksins sister farts, they will undoutedly block the airport again. Heard the army are laying on trucks for them to get up there if needs be.

Edited April 16, 2009 by grandpops