From: At Least 77 Injured In Bangkok Clashes

[steven100]

Logic response ... ( you cannot argue with common sense )

Agreed ..... The Red shirts have shown complete disrespect for the law and therefore should be held accountable.

You can have a peacefull protest to get your point across... but they had no intention of a peacefull protest ....

I was watching Aljazara TV this morning and the head huncho was just making excuse after excuse when asked why the government car was attacked ... why was the government building siezed .... he said the protesters were enraged ... Well if they are so enraged why not go home and tip a cold bucket of water over there heads to cool down....

These guys are breaking the law .. they deserve the punishment...good on the army for taking action against these protesters.

Also, I blame Taksin as part of the problem as he is enticing them to cause mayhem and revolt... he should be extradited and charged accordingly... Thats what happens in a democratic society...

IMO..

[Mrkisskissbangbang]

Let's not forget, one sided news stories from The Nation should be read with great caution.

[Neeranam]

"They fired into the air ..."

Anyone who has been trained with firearms know the dangers of shooting into the air. A bullet has no conscious and comes down with enough velocity to kill someone! Still a dangerous situation! Foolish really!

Are you sure? Could a large hailstone kill someone?

[Oberkommando]

Live rounds should not be used to control rioting mobs in this day and age.

The British Police at the G20 Summit showed how to control an unruly mob.

Conclusion: The Thai method of non-confrontational stance and inaction does not work.

[LawnGnome]

Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces is speaking now. - http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/

He is asking people to stay informed, and cooperate with authorities, to resolve the conflict quickly. Anticipates that all transportation will be open and available soon.

[h90]

"They fired into the air ..."

Anyone who has been trained with firearms know the dangers of shooting into the air. A bullet has no conscious and comes down with enough velocity to kill someone! Still a dangerous situation! Foolish really!

not true...dangerous yes but not killing

[wasabi]

In this day and age there are many very powerful nonlethal forms of crowd dispersion such as sound and heat producing weapons that can clear a crowd in minutes. With Thailand's propensity to have mobs gather I can't understand why they don't invest in such tools? They could have brought such a weapon to the ASEAN Summit and had that crowd hottailing back to their normal routine in Issan like getting drunk on a porch somewhere and knocking up the local girls, or racking up a big gambling debt and robbing their neighbors. Rather than disgracing Thailand, worsening the economy and thus having repercussions that worse the lot for everyone.

Your foolish remarks on the good people of essan is another reason why people like my peaceful caring wife wants to put on a red shirt and stand up for her rights as a citizen of Thailand! Why should they be used as cheap labour and servants or prostitutes just because it serves the purposes of the rich? We now live in a complex in Bangkok where the majority living here are Thai-Chinese, and the racial coments she recieves here is beyond belief. Now you come on here and you know all about life of the poor!

Most farang here are working class who's ancesters in the past have fought for their rights. Why should all the power, good education,

jobs and wealth be here in Bangkok?

I come from southern England. In the past it was the area of wealth and the North was considered poor working class,but times have changed. There are the same chances for everyone in England, no matter where you are born. This is right and the way it should be.

If the North prospers, then so does the rest of the country and vice versa.

Why can't the people of Bangkok see this?

All this nonsence was started because police could not control 2000 demonstrators in Pattaya, and Newin tried to use his own army.

What would happen if Thailand had big demos like the G10 in London?

No my friend, my wife is not for Thaksin, she has not demonstrated, and if she were to it would not be for 500bt. But she would for the

right to have a fair life in the country of her birth.

I agree there any many good people in Issan but I don't think they were represented very well by the lunatics running around settings things on fire and attacking the PM's car. Everyone deserves a voice but you can't just muscle your way in and act with complete disregard for others. I have met many in Issan much smarter and more accomplished than myself. But I think there are also some from there who have a lack of ethics and habits that lead them into a poverty spiral that is of their own making. Many of these so called women forced into prostitution must do so due to the profound greed and laziness of their own families, I have seen countless times Mom and Pop retire at 40 and send the daughter to Pattaya, she sends back the dough and big brother drinks and gambles it away so her noble sacrifice goes to complete waste. It is in many many cases not the fault of anyone in Bangkok. Though I am not at all saying their is not extreme prejudice and inequality. It's just you can throw a million Baht at some people and they will still be total losers. I meant no offense to your wife. My wife is also from Issan. But I don't take back my statement that the ones running around with Bandannas are your stereotypical total lowlife who just wants an easy ride.

Many people have legitimate grievances in life but terrorizing others is no way to get my respect or attention. Had these people peacefully protested instead of engaging in their barbaric actions I would be deeply sympathetic. I did not mean to insult all of Issan only the fact the low lifes in this particular rally are from there and they should go back to their previous existences if this is all they have to offer.

Edited April 13, 2009 by wasabi

[carbine1125]

Government ignores the problem like when Somchai was PM, Thai Visa experts complain and moan.

Government does it's job and takes control of Violent protesters disrupting everyones life, Thai Visa experts complain moan.

What is it with people here,?

well said most of us come here for help and information, now to listen to whining a-holes

[BHA83]

Good leaders are loved and feared, and it's a little to late for the first one. Crack some skulls Abhisit or this will just be a continuous cycle of political madness and economic instability. By any means necessary especially during times of a world recession there's gotta be a leader that grabs the reins of the country and blatantly states "Don't <deleted> with me."

I wonder how many protesters would hang around if Thaksin stopped paying them? They want immediate change but it takes some time to see the changes from a newly implimented gov't they gave Abhisit what? Three measley months if that. They're now hijacking LPG tankers and opening the valves to release the contents and in effect evacuating entire neighborhoods, do they realize how volitile LPG is? Probably not. These are the same idiots that will drape you over their shoulder and jump up and down in an attempt to save you if your drowning.Go home red's and get an education.

This is just the point! They would love a chance of a good education just like those wealthy in Bangkok. We had to take our daughter out of school in the village, educate her overseas so she is now fluent in English. She now studies in Bangkok.

Why could she not have had this where she lives? Because the wealthy Bangkokians do not want this. My wife has had to put up with being poor lower class all her life and Essan people only want the things that you wish for in your country of origin. Is this so wrong?

This is not just about Thaksin, sure he is using the poor for his own aims. But the poor know how to use people too!

Some of your comments are dangerous and the reason normally good natured people are so angry.

People in the North of Thailand are people too!

[meelousee]

In this day and age there are many very powerful nonlethal forms of crowd dispersion such as sound and heat producing weapons that can clear a crowd in minutes. With Thailand's propensity to have mobs gather I can't understand why they don't invest in such tools? They could have brought such a weapon to the ASEAN Summit and had that crowd hottailing back to their normal routine in Issan like getting drunk on a porch somewhere and knocking up the local girls, or racking up a big gambling debt and robbing their neighbors. Rather than disgracing Thailand, worsening the economy and thus having repercussions that worse the lot for everyone.

Howdy

You are right there are such systems available. But the Thai budget is not.

That is unless you have TEA money up the kazoo, I personaly have offered these systems since the situation in Tak Bai.

But no go. Think before you post nonessential information "there are many very powerful nonlethal forms of crowd dispersion" in this forum since you know nothing about them or where to get them or why the Thai Government does not have them to use.

You only need to ask one question "Why dont they use them" 99% of the time you ask that question about ANY government the answer has something to do with MONEY

[CrossBones]

Good leaders are loved and feared, and it's a little to late for the first one. Crack some skulls Abhisit or this will just be a continuous cycle of political madness and economic instability. By any means necessary especially during times of a world recession there's gotta be a leader that grabs the reins of the country and blatantly states "Don't <deleted> with me."

I wonder how many protesters would hang around if Thaksin stopped paying them? They want immediate change but it takes some time to see the changes from a newly implimented gov't they gave Abhisit what? Three measley months if that. They're now hijacking LPG tankers and opening the valves to release the contents and in effect evacuating entire neighborhoods, do they realize how volitile LPG is? Probably not. These are the same idiots that will drape you over their shoulder and jump up and down in an attempt to save you if your drowning.Go home red's and get an education.

This is just the point! They would love a chance of a good education just like those wealthy in Bangkok. We had to take our daughter out of school in the village, educate her overseas so she is now fluent in English. She now studies in Bangkok.

Why could she not have had this where she lives? Because the wealthy Bangkokians do not want this. My wife has had to put up with being poor lower class all her life and Essan people only want the things that you wish for in your country of origin. Is this so wrong?

This is not just about Thaksin, sure he is using the poor for his own aims. But the poor know how to use people too!

Some of your comments are dangerous and the reason normally good natured people are so angry.

People in the North of Thailand are people too!

Sadly, history has taught us that communism, socialism, reds and "peoples revolutions" do not make the poor any better off....a shift of power means that lower class thugs rule, educated people are persecuted look at Cambodia. Its easy to get sucked into popularist politics but dont think for a minute that Thaksin's mob are really concerned with decent hard working country people like your wife. What Thaksin is doing now is building an inner circle of paid thugs, like the dogs in Animal Farm, and is trying fool the people into accepting his "better cause". I believe if he can regain power he intends for Thailand to be like China or Singapore where a one party system rules through nepotism. Dont think for a minute that there is not a repressed class of people in either of those countries.

Pigs are men and men are pigs.

[robblok]

This is just the point! They would love a chance of a good education just like those wealthy in Bangkok. We had to take our daughter out of school in the village, educate her overseas so she is now fluent in English. She now studies in Bangkok.

Why could she not have had this where she lives? Because the wealthy Bangkokians do not want this. My wife has had to put up with being poor lower class all her life and Essan people only want the things that you wish for in your country of origin. Is this so wrong?

This is not just about Thaksin, sure he is using the poor for his own aims. But the poor know how to use people too!

Some of your comments are dangerous and the reason normally good natured people are so angry.

People in the North of Thailand are people too!

Why would there have to be a good school everywhere. Thailand isn't a rich country just center it around important places. If you want your child to go somewhere you should move closer to the spots. Even in Holland it was quite normal for ppl to either find a room close to school or travel 4 hours a day to a school. If you want something it can be done.

Things don't always have to be handed to you you have to put a lil effort in it. You put effort in it and she got her education... good. I have seen ppl from other provinces study in BKK its quite normal.

You cant expect a good school everywhere within walking distance.

I am more pro democrats then pro taksin but i think all them are big crooks who only care about their own money. It really doesnt mather much who is in charge they are there for their own not to help the ppl.

[stoffel45]

Now we all know the reason Taksin evacuated his family this week ! dam_n his greedy cowardly heart

[brahmburgers]

Rather reminds me of that part in the movie: "The Three Amigos" (Steve Martin, Chevy Chase)

.....where the three amigos (think: Red Shirts) are playing around, acting like tough cowboys, thinking they're in a movie. However, they're acting tough in front of real tough cowboys (army) who the 3 Amigos think are also movie actors. Then the Steve Martin character gets shot off his horse, wounded in the shoulder, and goes to his two acting buddies and whispers, "they're using real bullets!" Then chastises the real cowboys by shouting, "hey, that's no fair, you're not supposed to use real bullets, this is a movie! .....then right away realizes the real cowboys are not actors, but are the real item.

[fiddlehead]

Howdy

You are right there are such systems available. But the Thai budget is not.

That is unless you have TEA money up the kazoo, I personaly have offered these systems since the situation in Tak Bai.

But no go. Think before you post nonessential information "there are many very powerful nonlethal forms of crowd dispersion" in this forum since you know nothing about them or where to get them or why the Thai Government does not have them to use.

You only need to ask one question "Why dont they use them" 99% of the time you ask that question about ANY government the answer has something to do with MONEY

Huh? Water cannons are on every fire truck in the city that i've seen. Who needs extra money to fire up some water trucks during Songkran?

[Pierrot]

I'm greatly worried. I've read a number of posts in this forum where people clearly advocated the use of deadly force against protesters.

First I don't remember PAD opponents EVER making such request during PAD protest.

More disturbing is the fact that those posts are allowed to be published.

Edited April 13, 2009 by Pierrot

[Chang_paarp]

Looks feels and sounds like Beirut when the crackdown began there I was at the Holiday Inn Beirut.

This time I was at the Federal Hotel Soi 11.

One of the staff called me and told me I should get ready to go home, I was already having a coffee when the call came.

Looks like the PM will not make the same mistakes he made in Pattaya

Do me a favor, let me know when you move so I can stay away.

[kalaminsa]

"They fired into the air ..."

Anyone who has been trained with firearms know the dangers of shooting into the air. A bullet has no conscious and comes down with enough velocity to kill someone! Still a dangerous situation! Foolish really!

not true...dangerous yes but not killing

There are numerous instances were this has happened .It is true.

[BHA83]

Good leaders are loved and feared, and it's a little to late for the first one. Crack some skulls Abhisit or this will just be a continuous cycle of political madness and economic instability. By any means necessary especially during times of a world recession there's gotta be a leader that grabs the reins of the country and blatantly states "Don't <deleted> with me."

I wonder how many protesters would hang around if Thaksin stopped paying them? They want immediate change but it takes some time to see the changes from a newly implimented gov't they gave Abhisit what? Three measley months if that. They're now hijacking LPG tankers and opening the valves to release the contents and in effect evacuating entire neighborhoods, do they realize how volitile LPG is? Probably not. These are the same idiots that will drape you over their shoulder and jump up and down in an attempt to save you if your drowning.Go home red's and get an education.

This is just the point! They would love a chance of a good education just like those wealthy in Bangkok. We had to take our daughter out of school in the village, educate her overseas so she is now fluent in English. She now studies in Bangkok.

Why could she not have had this where she lives? Because the wealthy Bangkokians do not want this. My wife has had to put up with being poor lower class all her life and Essan people only want the things that you wish for in your country of origin. Is this so wrong?

This is not just about Thaksin, sure he is using the poor for his own aims. But the poor know how to use people too!

Some of your comments are dangerous and the reason normally good natured people are so angry.

People in the North of Thailand are people too!

Sadly, history has taught us that communism, socialism, reds and "peoples revolutions" do not make the poor any better off....a shift of power means that lower class thugs rule, educated people are persecuted look at Cambodia. Its easy to get sucked into popularist politics but dont think for a minute that Thaksin's mob are really concerned with decent hard working country people like your wife. What Thaksin is doing now is building an inner circle of paid thugs, like the dogs in Animal Farm, and is trying fool the people into accepting his "better cause". I believe if he can regain power he intends for Thailand to be like China or Singapore where a one party system rules through nepotism. Dont think for a minute that there is not a repressed class of people in either of those countries.

Pigs are men and men are pigs.

I'm not saying what is going on now is right. I am just pissed off with the abuse Essan people get for not being educated. All past governments have had the chance to take good education to the countryside. They would love the chance of a good education and good job prospects. This is what happens in most countries that the likes of us come from.

My step daughter is proof that Essan people can be educated given the chance.

Thaksin no! We need the middle road. Thailand for all Thai people!

[coconutmonkey]

Howdy

You are right there are such systems available. But the Thai budget is not.

That is unless you have TEA money up the kazoo, I personaly have offered these systems since the situation in Tak Bai.

But no go. Think before you post nonessential information "there are many very powerful nonlethal forms of crowd dispersion" in this forum since you know nothing about them or where to get them or why the Thai Government does not have them to use.

You only need to ask one question "Why dont they use them" 99% of the time you ask that question about ANY government the answer has something to do with MONEY

Huh? Water cannons are on every fire truck in the city that i've seen. Who needs extra money to fire up some water trucks during Songkran?

Well, they can't use water cannons cause many Thai's can't swim

[Nylarac]

There are so many posts on this thread I haven't read them all. Has anyone posted qualified confirmation that live ammunition has been fired? Am I right in thinking it's dangerous to fire live ammunition in the air? What going up has to come down and all that...

[wasabi]

Sadly, history has taught us that communism, socialism, reds and "peoples revolutions" do not make the poor any better off....a shift of power means that lower class thugs rule, educated people are persecuted look at Cambodia. Its easy to get sucked into popularist politics but dont think for a minute that Thaksin's mob are really concerned with decent hard working country people like your wife. What Thaksin is doing now is building an inner circle of paid thugs, like the dogs in Animal Farm, and is trying fool the people into accepting his "better cause". I believe if he can regain power he intends for Thailand to be like China or Singapore where a one party system rules through nepotism. Dont think for a minute that there is not a repressed class of people in either of those countries.

Pigs are men and men are pigs.

This is a very good point and my concern also. I do think people have legitimate grievances in the red shirt camp. Just going about it like a reckless mob at the beck and call of a man sitting comfortably in a hotel thousands of miles away is at least a little bit misguided. Protest the inequities of Thai society all you want, just don't do it under the banner of Thaksin. However I for one think the Coup was a mistake, if Thaksin was acting illegally than the court system and senate is how a proper nation handles that grievance. I don't think Thaksin has the reds best interest at heart, they are simply a means to power for him. There is wrong doing on both sides.

The people of Issan are undergoing a similar struggle as blacks did in America in the 60's. It's just too bad there isn't someone like MLK to lead them.

[dttk0009]

I'm greatly worried. I've read a number of posts in this forum where people clearly advocated the use of deadly force against protesters.

First I don't remember PAD opponents EVER making such request during PAD protest.

More disturbing is the fact that those posts are allowed to be published.

There's a not-so-fine line between protesting and hooliganism/rioting. There's nothing wrong with banding together with people and voicing your beliefs/concerns about something. There's something very wrong with lobbing molotov cocktails, hijacking LPG trucks and flat out attacking unarmed people with a mob mentality. This kind of behavior can only be countered with superior force, or better said, suppression. Nobody (sane) here wants to see casualties or injuries, but at this point it's unavoidable.

The soldiers and police are out there protecting US, let's remember that.

[Thaifan2]

>>Well, they can't use water cannons cause many Thai's can't swim <<

You are so funny ( not ).

[phanu]

Edited April 13, 2009 by phanu

[CrossBones]

Good leaders are loved and feared, and it's a little to late for the first one. Crack some skulls Abhisit or this will just be a continuous cycle of political madness and economic instability. By any means necessary especially during times of a world recession there's gotta be a leader that grabs the reins of the country and blatantly states "Don't &lt;deleted&gt; with me."

I wonder how many protesters would hang around if Thaksin stopped paying them? They want immediate change but it takes some time to see the changes from a newly implimented gov't they gave Abhisit what? Three measley months if that. They're now hijacking LPG tankers and opening the valves to release the contents and in effect evacuating entire neighborhoods, do they realize how volitile LPG is? Probably not. These are the same idiots that will drape you over their shoulder and jump up and down in an attempt to save you if your drowning.Go home red's and get an education.

This is just the point! They would love a chance of a good education just like those wealthy in Bangkok. We had to take our daughter out of school in the village, educate her overseas so she is now fluent in English. She now studies in Bangkok.

Why could she not have had this where she lives? Because the wealthy Bangkokians do not want this. My wife has had to put up with being poor lower class all her life and Essan people only want the things that you wish for in your country of origin. Is this so wrong?

This is not just about Thaksin, sure he is using the poor for his own aims. But the poor know how to use people too!

Some of your comments are dangerous and the reason normally good natured people are so angry.

People in the North of Thailand are people too!

Sadly, history has taught us that communism, socialism, reds and "peoples revolutions" do not make the poor any better off....a shift of power means that lower class thugs rule, educated people are persecuted look at Cambodia. Its easy to get sucked into popularist politics but dont think for a minute that Thaksin's mob are really concerned with decent hard working country people like your wife. What Thaksin is doing now is building an inner circle of paid thugs, like the dogs in Animal Farm, and is trying fool the people into accepting his "better cause". I believe if he can regain power he intends for Thailand to be like China or Singapore where a one party system rules through nepotism. Dont think for a minute that there is not a repressed class of people in either of those countries.

Pigs are men and men are pigs.

I'm not saying what is going on now is right. I am just pissed off with the abuse Essan people get for not being educated. All past governments have had the chance to take good education to the countryside. They would love the chance of a good education and good job prospects. This is what happens in most countries that the likes of us come from.

My step daughter is proof that Essan people can be educated given the chance.

Thaksin no! We need the middle road. Thailand for all Thai people!

I'm of the opinion that Thailand would be on a slow but sure path to becoming a first world country, if it weren't for these political disturbances. I don't believe that overthrowing the institution in place for a "better one" is the right solution. Education, understanding, multiculturalism, tourism, input from the west (yes that means farangs), inclusion into ASEAN and Thailand being given the chance to be taken seriously on the political stage are all part and parcel of steps towards establishing a mediocrity in Thailand.

[coconutmonkey]

>>Well, they can't use water cannons cause many Thai's can't swim <<

You are so funny ( not ).

That was the idea (not).

I was referring to a previous post before it, about the lack of education and "Thailand for all Thai's" as it was so well put. Check it out.

[phanu]

>>Well, they can't use water cannons cause many Thai's can't swim <<

You are so funny ( not ).

... but if they use "nam plaa" instead of water... ??? AROY DEE

[Terry Shannon]

Please, please Thialand, come to your senses. Your country has given us a second home over many years. We love your country and your people and all that you stand for, but now you are turning us farangs away. I hope and pray that there will be a peaceful resolution.

[Pierrot]

I'm greatly worried. I've read a number of posts in this forum where people clearly advocated the use of deadly force against protesters.

First I don't remember PAD opponents EVER making such request during PAD protest.

More disturbing is the fact that those posts are allowed to be published.

There's a not-so-fine line between protesting and hooliganism/rioting. There's nothing wrong with banding together with people and voicing your beliefs/concerns about something. There's something very wrong with lobbing molotov cocktails, hijacking LPG trucks and flat out attacking unarmed people with a mob mentality. This kind of behavior can only be countered with superior force, or better said, suppression. Nobody (sane) here wants to see casualties or injuries, but at this point it's unavoidable.

The soldiers and police are out there protecting US, let's remember that.

Could you please let me know when history vindicated the use of live ammunition on a crowd ?

On a personnal note, the fact that you use the word "suppression", therefore coldly advocating the killing of human people, makes me sick !