Sunday Redshirt Rally Postponed

[george]

Sunday rally postponed

BANGKOK: -- Pro-Thaksin protesters announced Saturday they decided to postpone their mass rally planned for Sunday as they are not allowed to gather under the internal security laws.

They said they planned to rally on September 5.

They would again postpone their rally if the government enforced the Internal Security Act again for their Sept 5 rally.

-- The Nation 2009-08-29

[h90]

Maybe the money not came?

No money no rally.....

[TAWP]

I giggled at the news.

[hammered]

Consider what Khwanchai said and what he said Thaksin had said.

Edited to add: and the budghet bill has been passed so it cant be derailed now. That is a critical occurence that few have commented on, but stopping the budget bill is always an aim of these rallies as to stop it stops the government from functioning.

Edited August 29, 2009 by hammered

[frodo]

Not allowed to protest? They were allowed to protest as long as it was civil or orderly. Perhaps that was too much to ask for.

[webfact]

Good news!

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I am very happy that they made the decision to postpone the planned gathering. Definitely a step in the right direction.

[Jingthing]

Vindication for imposing the security measures. Obviously the reds want a violent revolution and they realized they were not ready to resist the new security measures. They could have had a PEACEFUL rally. That is clearly not what they wanted. Kudos to Abhisit for restraint before, but increased resistance in view of the reality of what these reds are REALLY all about (and it ain't democracy).

Edited August 29, 2009 by Jingthing

[jsdwd]

Is Thailand still advertising itself as a democracy? What a joke. But the idea that the cronies who run Thailand have anything to do with democratic rule has always been laughable.

Edited August 29, 2009 by jsdwd

[Jingthing]

Is Thailand still advertising itself as a democracy? What a joke. But the idea that the cronies who run Thailand have anything to do with democratic rule has always been laughable.

Agreed, it isn't a real democracy here. However, surrendering to a red mob who want to install a latter day Thai Mussolini is another step in the wrong direction.

[frodo]

Vindication for imposing the security measures. Obviously the reds want a violent revolution and they realized they were not ready to resist the new security measures. They could have had a PEACEFUL rally. That is clearly not what they wanted. Kudos to Abhisit for restraint before, but increased resistance in view of the reality of what these reds are REALLY all about (and it's ain't democracy).

That and the screw up of their "secret weapon" aka "the fake audio clip" to try and bring down Abhisit which may have turned the tables against them.

[h90]

Is Thailand still advertising itself as a democracy? What a joke. But the idea that the cronies who run Thailand have anything to do with democratic rule has always been laughable.

Can you explain that?

What isn't democratic?

[webfact]

Is Thailand still advertising itself as a democracy? What a joke. But the idea that the cronies who run Thailand have anything to do with democratic rule has always been laughable.

I concur with post #8 - please read it!

[mca]

What isn't democratic?

An M60 tank.

[DP25]

They need time to create some new fake audio clips to whip their mob in to violence.

[asiawatcher]

Seems appropriate - let's hold the country to ransom again - isn't this terrorism in its embryonic form? The unveiled threat and the costs and problems its causes?

Simply ban all demonstrations during this term of this Govt's office and clean up the corruption. Seems a reasonable solution

[cutz]

Is Thailand still advertising itself as a democracy? What a joke. But the idea that the cronies who run Thailand have anything to do with democratic rule has always been laughable.

Agreed, it isn't a real democracy here. However, surrendering to a red mob who want to install a latter day Thai Mussolini is another step in the wrong direction.

i agree... democracy...... have moral/ethics/ and as DR Phill saids........ you can not change, what you dont acknowlege!!! and to make anyboddy acknowlege!!! thats a joke.. maybe if bangkok post start being a news paper or read a little thaivisa-news coments::::

[asiawatcher]

Mind you red shirt peaceful demonstration by burning buses, beating up people in side streets and placing gas cylinders with canisters of fuel in the middle of streets, why not just send the snipers, let them hold their rally and dispose of the problem with a lesson in anti terrorism by qualified marksmen! And like the stupidity of the British Army, wearing red won't show the blood when they get shot! That'll work!

[noithip]

Another episode of Tom & Jerry!

[Jimjim]

Let's just hope they can wait until January. Abhisit has said a few times, if I remember, to give this government a year and see how they do, and that he would probably call for elections after just a year. Let's see if he stays true to his word. If he doesn't, then I think protests can be justified. But red shirts, have a little bloody patience.

[HYENA]

Is Thailand still advertising itself as a democracy? What a joke. But the idea that the cronies who run Thailand have anything to do with democratic rule has always been laughable.

Can you explain that?

What isn't democratic?

Typically in democratic countries, their leaders are elected by the entire population and they enjoy freedom of speech and right to expression (usually banning direct threats and libel/slander).

In such places also, one does not make common practice to give money directly into the hands of law enforcement and government persons for personal gain. My last trip I had to pay a police officer directly.

Edited August 29, 2009 by HYENA

[Lite Beer]

Post speculating about the Monarchy deleted.

[MrJohnson]

Is Thailand still advertising itself as a democracy? What a joke. But the idea that the cronies who run Thailand have anything to do with democratic rule has always been laughable.

let's have this comment with some audio shall we....." tsk tsk......long sigh.....knowing, condescending shake of the head..." - there, that's better

[firestar]

The irony runs thick in this thread.

Maybe if as soon as they protest the Red Shirts weren't met by government faction sponsored "Blue shirts" or fake "Sala daeng Residents" armed with talkie walkies, metal bars and guns that charge at them it wouldn't degenerate into violence.

Also amusing to see that those who supported a group who stormed an international airport and found it "good fun" are so outraged at a broken hotel door ::2 cents::

Edited August 29, 2009 by firestar

[Jingthing]

Let's just hope they can wait until January. Abhisit has said a few times, if I remember, to give this government a year and see how they do, and that he would probably call for elections after just a year. Let's see if he stays true to his word. If he doesn't, then I think protests can be justified. But red shirts, have a little bloody patience.

Protests are justified anytime for any reason. Violent demonstrations are not. Why the postponement? They were allowed to rally. You figure it out ...

Edited August 29, 2009 by Jingthing

[TAWP]

The irony runs thick in this thread.

Maybe if as soon as they protest the Red Shirts weren't met by government faction sponsored "Blue shirts" or fake "Sala daeng Residents" armed with talkie walkies, metal bars and guns that charge at them it wouldn't degenerate into violence.

Also amusing to see that those who supported a group who stormed an international airport and found it "good fun" are so outraged at a broken hotel door ::2 cents::

And ofcourse you have evidence that it was indeed 'fake Sala Daeng Residents' [sic] (amazingly nothing of this took place close to Sala Daeng, so...) that stormed any 'peaceful protesters' and ended up having two of the 'fakes' shot dead by the 'peaceful'?

[Maiya]

Well, that is 26 posts with a definite slant against the pro-democracy movement who cancelled their rally this week-end, or rather, moved it to next weekend.

Now aren't y'all thankful there is a lonely voice in this wilderness offering an alternative POV. How boring without it, right?

Here goes.

This is all about politics I am sure you will be very surprised to hear.

Not about affinity clothing colors, but about politics.

This is about A: people who want to do away with one-person-one-vote elections and B: those who dont.

The 'A' group are the ones with all the power, and they threatened the 'B' people.

The 'B' people very cleverly played the 'A' people by rescheduling this rally, because of threats.

This clearly positioned the threateners, the 'A' people, as being the "bullies of the class". To add insult to injury, these bullies also represent a minority.

Nobody likes a bully. This just adds to the grievances of Democracy being set upon.

Smart move. And all they needed to do was delay by a week.

The 26 posts above need to think a wee bit deeper.

I know the knee-jerk reaction will be to divert into an anti-Thaksin tirade by many, but he is not my issue or concern - one-person-one-vote electoral democracy is, and regardless how you want to re-direct the conversation - one side of the political divide wants an appointive system, the other one doesn't. Democracy is the issue folks. The anti-democracy folks just threatened the pro-democracy people out of having a rally this weekend.....and that strengthens their resolve .

Brilliant political move to re-schedule in the face of a 'bully' instead of just proceeding as they could have.

Edited August 29, 2009 by Maiya

[Mario2008]

Post containing reference to His majesty the King deleted.

[george]

Update:

Red Shirts postpone rally to next Saturday

BANGKOK: -- Key leaders of Thailand’s anti-government United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) postponed their mass rally in Bangkok on Sunday to next Saturday, September 5, citing the government's imposition of the Internal Security Act (ISA) as an exaggerated and unnecessary response.

Key leaders of the so-called Red Shirts, Veera Musikapong, Nattawut Saikua and Jatuporn Prompan, said Saturday that the group has re-evaluated the situation following the ISA enforcement by the government and decided to postpone their rally to next Saturday.

"The ISA has been unnecessarily enforced as the UDD gatherings have usually been carried out peacefully," Mr Veera said. "The government’s imposing the ISA seems quite serious, as if the situation will be worse than what has happened in the three restive southern provinces."

Another UDD leader, Mr Nattawut, said the rally might be delayed to September 19, the three-year anniversary of coup d'etat, if the ISA enforcement is prolonged.

The Cabinet earlier this week agreed to impose the ISA from today through Monday (August 29 to September 1) in Bangkok's Dusit district where the Red Shirt protesters planned to demonstrate.

Meanwhile, Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd, spokesman of a special centre set up to maintain law and order in response to Sunday’s mass protest, said that army remains on duty under the ISA enforcement until the law will be lifted up by the government.

He said the army personnel are still deployed around Government House and other government buildings in the area.

"It’s up to the UDD whether they continue their protest or not,” Col Sansern said. “The centre can not prohibit them."

Army chief Gen Anupong Paochinda has not yet issued new orders, said Pol Sansern, adding that he is awaiting an order regarding enforcement of the ISA from Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban who is the security centre director.

-- TNA 2009-08-29

[Jingthing]

Democracy is the issue folks. The anti-democracy folks just threatened the pro-democracy people out of having a rally this weekend.....and that strengthens their resolve .

Saying a lie a million times doesn't make it the truth. The reds want Thaksin back. That is their movement. The pro democracy rhetoric is just window dressing. A peaceful rally could have happened. Why cancel it if they intended it to be peaceful? Edited August 29, 2009 by Jingthing