Pm Cancels C.mai Visit

[marshbags]

The PM has decided to cancel his proposed visit.

He,s just issued a statement on Channel 9

Why should the nutters continually dictate what is happeneing via their usual method of violence / intimidation and seemingly get away with it

<deleted>

marshbags

Is this worthy of debate in the TNC ?

Please consider moving it as there is no other coverage ongoing.

[chiang mai]

Agreed, it's a sad and a bad move to cancel, speaking from an observers standpoint that is!

[Jingthing]

It is sad that the terrorists succeeded in fomenting their fear, and their Takki led threat is clearly real. However, given the timing of upcoming events in Thailand with the upcoming trial within the next month or so, Abhisit probably made a wise choice. Violent incidents involving him in CM would no doubt have played into the revolutionaries hand, likely sparking bigger actions in Bangkok.

[marshbags]

Agreed, it's a sad and a bad move to cancel, speaking from an observers standpoint that is!

This really does send out the wrong message and will only encourage them to do it every time the government wish to visit places in Thailand that are influenced by their one sided views.

Then there is the scum called Thaksin or is it TAKKI ( it should be spelt TACKY ) who will definitely be encouraged to go big time on this, exploiting it for all it,s worth.

He will consider this a victory for his own agenda, come what may about the rights and wrongs of it going ahead.

marshbags

[chiang mai]

Agreed, it's a sad and a bad move to cancel, speaking from an observers standpoint that is!

This really does send out the wrong message and will only encourage them to do it every time the government wish to visit places in Thailand that are influenced by their one sided views.

Then there is the scum called Thaksin or is it TAKKI ( it should be spelt TACKY ) who will definitely be encouraged to go big time on this, exploiting it for all it,s worth.

He will consider this a victory for his own agenda, come what may about the rights and wrongs of it going ahead.

marshbags

That's what I thought also but Jingthing does make a valid point in that the resolution of current legal proceedings in BKK may change the landscape, possibly our current PM knows some things that we don't!!

[Ulysses G.]

Glad to see the PM is sensible enough not to push things right now. This is Thailand and compromise often works here. No need to pretend to be some kind of Western style Rambo.

[meadish_sweetball]

Very surprised to find I agree with you, UG, although I think it has happened once before.

[lazygourmet]

Agreed with you Jingting, Khun Abhisit made a wise choice...

But -for myself- as a long term resident and pro-dem supporter, I have today a bitter taste in my mouth (no pun intended!) regarding his -non- move...

Otherwise, Khun Korn should lead the party... just methinks

[pedro01]

Maybe I'm being cynical - but I think Mr Abhisit has cancelled in order to build a little political capital from the debacle.

He is not scared and could go any time he wanted.

[Ulysses G.]

Very surprised to find I agree with you, UG, although I think it has happened once before.

Must have been about a good restaurant.

[Jingthing]

Maybe naive of me, but I think he really wanted to come and it would have been a political win if he could have come without incident. However, I think his security people convinced him it wasn't worth the risk.

[sharecropper]

I think this is terrible news for Thais and Thailand.

It proves (as did the Pattaya and Bangkok insurrections) that Thailand is a miserably failed state. Its own PM is not safe in large swathes of the country. The law enforcement agencies are unable to enforce the writ of the government, and are unable to enforce the laws because they too are corrupt, incompetent and complicit.

I fear this is leading to an unfortuante but necessary civil war.

Once the dust settles and the dead of both sides are buried, hopefully there will be a reconciliation. But it looks like it is going to get very nasty indeed before it gets any better.

[meadish_sweetball]

The PM probably would have been safe with all the security, but the risk of violence to others would have been high, and to avoid this I think he made a sensible decision in not going.

The way I see it, a clash between opposing sides in the streets of CM would have been a much more likely catalyst for escalation.

[Jingthing]

I think this is terrible news for Thais and Thailand.

It proves (as did the Pattaya and Bangkok insurrections) that Thailand is a miserably failed state. Its own PM is not safe in large swathes of the country. The law enforcement agencies are unable to enforce the writ of the government, and are unable to enforce the laws because they too are corrupt, incompetent and complicit.

I fear this is leading to an unfortuante but necessary civil war.

Once the dust settles and the dead of both sides are buried, hopefully there will be a reconciliation. But it looks like it is going to get very nasty indeed before it gets any better.

I sure hope you are wrong. I am not as pessimistic as you yet, but clearly, something has to give, and the longer it takes the more tension there will be built up that needs to be released. Kind of like small earthquakes and big earthquakes, it seems at the very least a mid-sized earthquake will be needed here. The main reason I am not as pessimistic is that Takki while he retains a significant core of true believers (many truly violent fanatics), has been greatly marginalized amongst the silent majority. The Cambodian incident was a huge PR blow to Takkie and I don't think that will be easily forgotten. It is not even clear he would win a theoretical one to one election with Abhisit now, although of course that's not how it works here. In any event, it is very clear now Takki couldn't stir up a million Thais to the streets of Bangkok to save his life and fortune. Maybe before. Not now. The down side is he is way more desperate than ever, thus the most dangerous and volatile he has ever been. Yes, folks, this is mostly about Takki. He is the only one with the power to call off his true believers for the good of national unity and peace, and of course, he won't be doing that.

[Ulysses G.]

If a revolution starts, it is going to be a bloody one and there is only one person who could stop it and he is not very healthy right now. The poor have been suppressed for a long, long time. Everybody needs to tread very carefully.

[rixalex]

The poor have been suppressed for a long, long time.

True.

It's a shame therefore that the current tension has nothing whatsoever to do with that suppression.

Abhisit was caught between a rock and a hard place on this one. Cancel the trip and bow to intimidation, or go and be blamed for causing unrest. Tails they win, heads he loses.

My feeling is though he should have gone. As with all Thai people, it's his own country and he shouldn't allow anyone to dictate where he can and can't go.

[Sparkles]

The PM probably would have been safe with all the security, but the risk of violence to others would have been high, and to avoid this I think he made a sensible decision in not going.

The way I see it, a clash between opposing sides in the streets of CM would have been a much more likely catalyst for escalation.

Would there have been be a clash ? There are 1000's of army personnel stationed around CM not to mention Police.

I am the last to want to anybody hurt but what sort of message does this send out that a PM can't travel within the kingdom and is dictated too by a bunch of thugs threatening violence. What sort of precedent does this set ? Does the average, decent Chiang Mai resident want to see their City and surrounds controlled by self appointed decision makers ?

[Jingthing]

Well, Samak wasn't safe in Bangkok when he was PM. Better to be safe in Bangkok than safe in CM if you are Thai PM (until Bangkok sinks but that is another story entirely).

[Ulysses G.]

I don't pretend to understand Thai politics, but to some extent, this is thought of as the rich trying to keep the poor in their place. No matter what we farangs think of Thaksin, many Thais love him and think that he represents the poor.

There is a LOT of resentment waiting to be exploited.

[MiG16]

it is interesting that the poor actually believe one of the richest man in the country does represent their interest

I look at the situation and my focus is beyond the evil that people see in what Thaksin does, but see the above as a question for my Dems representatives: what are the Dems not doing, and dont they think they SHOULD be doing something to change that.....

I know a lot of very intelligent, educated and capable people that are working with the Dems, and it surprises me even further. they know of things they can do, yet not much seems to be happening. this makes one wonder if the party cares .......

[ThaiPauly]

The Red Shirts in CM are gonna be very dissapointed he is not coming...they have been spoiling for a fight for a long time.

A wise decsion by the PM IMHO.

But where will ths will all end? ...I haven't a clue

[marshbags]

In my humble opinion, they should have used all the resources available to make a definite statement that these thugs cannot continue to hold the country to ransom.

They seemingly go about their evil agendas with inpunity.

They go about their paid for duties, * well the majority of them, not only in the areas of support, but anywhere and everywhere and do not care about society, nor the pain and anguish they cause to all the innocents who happen to be in the places, trying to go about their business ect. ect. or indeed disagree with them and what they represent and who and what motivates their cowardly actions.

* I have several red friends in Udonthani who are supportive of a different non violent agenda, but are ashamed and upset big time by those who go about terrorising locals and national citizens via violence.

One in particular who I know to be a good person, honest, hard working and genuine, managed to put across and convince me that not all the red supporters are violent, and that he agrees with lots of the differing opinions non violent, he supports certain things within their political sphere that certainly differs from the yellows and their respective supporters.

He definitely believes some of both are very healthy for the future of his obviously beloved country.

I hate using the colour scenario but it,s there for all to see.

* We have always discussed the differing points of view and never once did he indicate previously he supported the reds and the need to have both points of view, ect. for the better of Thai society.

I recently voiced my distaste to the new chairman of the PT party and their Mr. come back mischief maker Chavalit their supporters and the fact that they did not appear loyal to the country nor it,s institutions.

He was very upset by what I said and was nearly crying before outlining / saying the above and how ashamed he was of all trouble they are creating and inflicting on their fellow Thai.

By the way After the news item re the PM not going to C.Mai another item was shown relating to the reds encouraging non Thai joining their ranks and wearing the dreaded red shirt ect. ect....

Laos and Burmese workers this side of the boarder in particular were mentioned.

All encouraged of course via financial rewards !!!!!!! <deleted> again comes to mind.

marshbags

[KhaoNiaw]

Well, Samak wasn't safe in Bangkok when he was PM.

Bangkok was where Samak had his main support base. I don't believe he stopped his market visits etc. Obviously at the time, he had a PM's security detail but I doubt he would have needed it. The market vendors would have lynched anybody who tried anything.

[purplehaze]

And how long will it be before Chiang-Mai becomes a no go area for the P.M.

Thaksin will be rubbing his hands with glee,first Chiang -Mai then the North.Enter the peoples hero through the back door,revolution/civil war.

[sceadugenga]

I don't pretend to understand Thai politics, but to some extent, this is thought of as the rich trying to keep the poor in their place. No matter what we farangs think of Thaksin, many Thais love him and think that he represents the poor.

There is a LOT of resentment waiting to be exploited.

Anyone who lives in the north and takes notice of what's going on around him would have to agree with this.

[termad]

It is sad that the terrorists succeeded in fomenting their fear, and their Takki led threat is clearly real. However, given the timing of upcoming events in Thailand with the upcoming trial within the next month or so, Abhisit probably made a wise choice. Violent incidents involving him in CM would no doubt have played into the revolutionaries hand, likely sparking bigger actions in Bangkok.

Why do you call them revolutionaries?

[termad]

By the way After the news item re the PM not going to C.Mai another item was shown relating to the reds encouraging non Thai joining their ranks and wearing the dreaded red shirt ect. ect....

Laos and Burmese workers this side of the boarder in particular were mentioned.

All encouraged of course via financial rewards !!!!!!! <deleted> again comes to mind.

marshbags

You're a very gullible person if you believe everything you read or hear in Thailand. Do you really think that Laos and Burmese workers in Thailand would actually take part in political demonstrations in Thailand knowing the consequences they would face if they were to be arrested?

[Mario2008]

This tpic is also running in news clippings. Please post any comments there:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Pm-Abhisit-V...an-t317524.html