Red-Shirt Movement 'At War With Military'

[pgt99]

Another nail in Thailands tourist coffin if there is more political unrest on the streets. Even worse if they close swamp airport again.

[Thormaturge]

With quotes like this coming from someone with a name like Maj Gen Khattiya "Sawasdipol" it won't be long before Thailand is at war with the Ukraine.

[rixalex]

The Red Shirt movement goes way beyond Thaksin. I've been saying this for a long time now...

The issues in Thailand go way beyond Thaksin, the red shirt movement doesn't.

[bhakta]

This is a total mad man. He should be arrested, given a short trial and shot without delay... I have no sympathy for anyone who speaks like this

[Garry9999]

This is a total mad man. He should be arrested, given a short trial and shot without delay... I have no sympathy for anyone who speaks like this

Should be shot! Wow, lucky you're not in charge.

[animatic]

This is out of The Nation! Typical!

Do not believe the news media, here.

It is part of the strategy against the Red Shirts from government side.

As I said. Do not believe these censored news media!!!

And we should believe you?

Ah, another returnee is suspected.

The moves in this drama are the Red Shirts, but their patron is Thaksin.

This is at presentl less a Red / Yellow fight,

but a Thaksins Newer proto-Elite against the Older Elite fight over his money.

The yellows are not doing much at present but trying to slowly grow legit as a party.

The Reds are moving towards a street action or greater via Thaksin's connections.

Regardless if the yellows represent something from the past this is currently little to do with them.

And everything to do with Thaksins losing his huge pile.

That this nut even talks of declaring war shows that it is not just a cleaning out corruption

for a new world view, but a fight over control of assets and power.

There is nothing altruistic about this.

This is naked power grabbing, which is usually overlaid with a patina of social change,

but rarely if ever are those ABLE to make the drastic change happen the same ones

who actually willing to allow the better aspects actually take root if the DO win the day.

So there is a lonh term quest for more true democracy across the board in Thailnad,

No problem. The problem becomes accute when the likes of Thaksin and Jakrapob

and Jatuporno take control of that legitimate desire and clandestinely subvert it to

their power struggle as a weapon and not caring as long as THEY WIN.

Sae Dung is a perfectly expendable weapon for Thaksin, he is a lose cannon and

instigator and a wedge he can drive between factions, he also can make people take sides

to some extent, make people finailse a decisions to go for it all or layback.

Thaksin has said those who are not with us are against us. Sae Dung has upped that anti.

Either you are ready for war against the army and yellows and old guard as a whole

or you are with them and our soon to be enemy... Not a palatable choice for most Thais.

Thaksin is opening Pandora's box wide now and it's not for the faint of heart to look inside.

Easy enough for him to do so... he isn't here on the ground, too much of a Nancy to do that,

a revolutionary leader who dare not come in country...

It's debatable but I suspect that if more revolutionary or coup leaders in Thailands past,

did get a long, open trial, and then a quick execution, the number of attempted coups in Thailand

would have been reduced considerably. Not the nicest thing, but we can also see the effects

of not punishing treason properly on display in Thailands most checkered history.

I wonder where Oak and the girls are now and in the near future?

Edited January 23, 2010 by animatic

[crusty]

Treason.

Firing squad.

End of.

Yea saw lots of posers like him in Vietnam. They excelled at being first in line at the American PX's and were NEVER called in as reinforcements. The Aussies and G.I.'s favourites to cover their flanks were KOREANS. How did this nutter make Major General ?

[roygsd]

I dont think the redshirt "supporters" have the balls to follow this thai version of Custer, and if they were so stupid to do so I suspect the repercussions against their families would be swift, I woul not be too suprised if this guy will ended up with a bullet in the head soner than later from within the redshirt organisation and the southern extremests woud seem to be a convienient group to pass the blame onto if he is in that area.

roygsd

[kimamey]

His website is hosted in Thailand. Why doesn't the Gov take it down?

I suppose it might be seen as the government censoring opposistion which could inflame the situation. Probably not worth it if it's unlikely he will get much support.

I appointed myself a leader of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship.

Is this just bad translation or more likely completely contradictory.

Why shut him up? It looks like he's doing a pretty good job of talking himself down to me.

I must admit I know nothing about this guy but he seems pretty unpopular on here at least.

[Samuian]

Wonderful outing - let 'em comin' PLEASE!

I start to enjoy it - now what is "Da Man's" response to this from the Emirate?

reminds me of a song by the late John Lennon:

You say you want a revolution

Well, you know

We all want to change the world

You tell me that it's evolution

Well, you know

We all want to change the world

But when you talk about destruction

Don't you know that you can count me out? (in)

Don't you know it's gonna be

Alright?

Alright?

Alright?

You say you've got a real solution

Well, you know

We'd all love to see the plan

You ask me for a contribution

Well, you know

We are doing what we can

But if you want money for people with minds that hate

All I can tell is, brother, you'll have to wait

Don't you know it's gonna be

Alright?

Alright?

Alright?

You say you'll change the constitution

Well, you know

We all want to change your head

You tell me it's the institution

Well, you know

You'd better free your mind instead

But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao

You ain't gonna make it with anyone anyhow

Don't you know it's gonna be

Alright?

Alright?

Alright?

Alright?

Alright?

Alright?

....times change, but people?

[plachon]

Is there really any need for xenophobic stereotyping?

If this is a reference to ethnic Chinese this is a fact. Bangkok was originally formed by Ethnic Chinese people(source Lonely planet guide to Bangkok) I work with rich Thais in Bangkok and 99% are part Chinese. Take a look at the Yellowshirts and try to spot the suntan I don't think you will find one they are as white skinned as the actors in Thai advertising campaigns. I don't like xenophobia myself but in this case it is a fact.

The ethnic Chinese are spread all over Thailand and intermarried immensley. The yellow demos were full of dark skinned Thais if you cared to look particularly in the latter days. The red shirts have their own fair share of Sino-Thais and this has increased if anything recently. Indeed what is Thaksin and many of the red leadership? The Sino-Thais have been at the bitter end of Thai nationalism in the past oddly enough including by some of Thaksins own allies!

Sorry but it is more complicated than you write and not "fact" as you say.

Thank you hammered for putting some balanced perspective on the racist overtones of the above posts. My own experience of Yellow shirt supporters would suggest that they come from a wide range of regions and ethnic backgrounds, including many from the South and quite a few from Isaan. My old next door neighbour was there in Bangkok through the long days of Govt house occupation and the sit-in at the airports and she is true Lao Isaan ethnically and about as far from the Bangkok Sino-Thai elites as one could hope to find. To suggest that the Yellow movement is representing the interests of the Bangkok elite is just plain wrong. It is very broad-based, as evidenced by the backgrounds of the 5 leaders. Yes, the situation is far more complex than the racial simplifications given by clearly misled posters have suggested.

[christcourt]

Red Shirts showing their true colours.

Well the Yellow Idiots started it all as I recall, now we have little headless hitlers going around stiring up trouble. What with the government dislike for Falang its only a matter of time before there's another coup and exidus of Westerners if its not already started. And all was quiet when I first came here 8 years ago or so it seemed.

[jontom]

[quote name=plachon' date='2010-01-

Is there23 16:54:07' post='3288647] really any need for xenophobic stereotyping?

If this is a reference to ethnic Chinese this is a fact. Bangkok was originally formed by Ethnic Chinese people(source Lonely planet guide to Bangkok) I work with rich Thais in Bangkok and 99% are part Chinese. Take a look at the Yellowshirts and try to spot the suntan I don't think you will find one they are as white skinned as the actors in Thai advertising campaigns. I don't like xenophobia myself but in this case it is a fact.

The ethnic Chinese are spread all over Thailand and intermarried immensley. The yellow demos were full of dark skinned Thais if you cared to look particularly in the latter days. The red shirts have their own fair share of Sino-Thais and this has increased if anything recently. Indeed what is Thaksin and many of the red leadership? The Sino-Thais have been at the bitter end of Thai nationalism in the past oddly enough including by some of Thaksins own allies!

Sorry but it is more complicated than you write and not "fact" as you say.

Thank you hammered for putting some balanced perspective on the racist overtones of the above posts. My own experience of Yellow shirt supporters would suggest that they come from a wide range of regions and ethnic backgrounds, including many from the South and quite a few from Isaan. My old next door neighbour was there in Bangkok through the long days of Govt house occupation and the sit-in at the airports and she is true Lao Isaan ethnically and about as far from the Bangkok Sino-Thai elites as one could hope to find. To suggest that the Yellow movement is representing the interests of the Bangkok elite is just plain wrong. It is very broad-based, as evidenced by the backgrounds of the 5 leaders. Yes, the situation is far more complex than the racial simplifications given by clearly misled posters have suggested.

Well pardon me I must have got it the wrong way round all the dark skinned Isaan (is that being racist or just an observation ?) Bangkok taxi drivers that I meet that speak passionately in favour of Thaksin are really Sino Chinese Elite in disguise that obviously are Yellow shirts. How come what I see with my own eyes everyday doesnt match what you claim?

[david555]

A couple of crazy morons with a couple grenades does not make "Army" against "Army". People use the term civil war far to liberally around here.

Remember Vietnam with another "crazy morons"(on bicycles) beat the French And the almighty army from USA...., same same guerrilla warfare is a loooong war , somebody forget clearly that you can not ignore the conviction from 50% of a country's population ...., thats why such fanatics get chance

[christcourt]

Someones been watching a TV and movies a little too much.

I been watching Silvesta Stallone shooting and blowing up a town!! Is that the same guy LOL

[kimamey]

Treason.

Firing squad.

End of.

I think its about time us Farang kept out of Thai politic,s,and making comments they know nothing about....I,m not going to take sides only to say this,when Thaskin was over thrown by the military, the only response from the USA, was to halt military aid,perhaps people forget Honduras?

Sanctions, and so forth,Thaskin WAS LEGALLY ELECTED and it should have been up to the Thai people to vote him out if they so wished,the current Thai P.M. hasnt been elected by the people,incidently neither has Gordon Brown of the UK.

The current political impasse isnt going to be sorted out anytime soon,those that organised and took part in removing Thaskin, should be brought to book and not allowed to retire or whatever, perhaps they also should have ALL their assets seized until they have explained where in the Military code it says you can over throw an elected government.

Unfortunately in Thailand the military over the years have removed various elected officials and i can not see them changing anytime soon.

In a democracy it's ok for anyone to comment on politics since that's how we find out about the different views. If the press is biased it may be our only way and unless a farang has obtained Thai citizenship they can't vote so comment is all they can do.

You should check your facts on Gordon Brown and UK electoral practice though. I believe this is roughly what happens although if anyone wants to correct me feel free.

In parliamentary elections the residents in a constituency vote for the candidate of their choice who may or may not be a member of a particular party although obviously they usually are. The winning candidate takes their seat in the House of Commons as one part of the parliament. the other being the House of Lords. Gordon Brown is the member of parliament for Kircaldy and Cowdenbeath as he was elected by that constituency.

The party with the most members is asked by the Queen to form a government and that party chooses it's leader who becomes Prime Minister or although the original title , which is on the door of number 10 Downing Street , First Lord of the Treasury. The Prime Minister only has power as far as his elected members allow him and ultimately parliament itself.

I'm not sure about the Thai parliament and Prime Minister but perhaps I should take some time to do so.

I had to do the same when I found out that Thailand had a King. A total surprise since he has been on the throne for so long and is so important to Thai people. Seems a good man from looking at the uncensored internet from here in the UK. An example maybe?

[chutai]

Thaksin was a cancer for Thailand, a self serving miscreant who gave to the poor with the right hand to better take from them with his left hand ..... its not because a majority of the voters are brainwashed by populist propaganda that the "elected" leader is not a dangerous one for the country .... it was so obvious ( at least if you have half a brain and can understand what is going on) that Thaksin and his mafia style government were blindly robbing Thailand dry.... Thais should forget about Thaksin and move on .... give a chance to Abhisit until next elections at least to be able to make a bilan at some point ..... but they should reject all the old dinosaurs of thai politics and ask for new blood ........ one thing you have to understand about Thailand is that being a politician here is not by ideology , its just a business .... the PM sells the ministry posts to whom can afford to pay the most ..... then they have to be corrupt if they want to recoup their investments ..... please read monsoon country and the force of kharma from issan author [bPira Sudham[/b] .... you may well learn something or two ....

There is much that is inaccurate and superficial in the above , being reinforced with not a little arrogance that I feel the need to point out that Thaksin used a “dual track” strategy of mixing neoliberalism with grassroots Keynesianism. Believing that the poor must not be left out and had a record of real pro-poor policies such as the heath care scheme. However, Abhisit governemnet are hard-line monetarists. They instigate interest rate hikes to cut down spending on the poor and to squeeze wages and favour of military coups, per se, and reducing the number of elected parliamentarians and senators and increasing the power of unelected bureaucrats and the army. The justification for this is the belief that the poor majority in the country are too stupid to be given the vote. They are not happy in just creating the new coup but were happy to whip up hatred of Cambodia and risk a war over an ancient Khmer temple. The PAD strategy, was, as outlined by Pipop Thongchai, to create enough political chaos so that institutions and parties are destroyed and a “new order” arises from the ashes. Needless to say, this "new order" is neither democratic nor committed to social justice and equality.

So much for thew great bulk of what you've written, and perhaps the books that you've read are likewise so right wing as to off any democratic radar too. But I somehow doubt that is the case.

[thaijasmine]

All the power to him, I say.

I support the red shirts' cause, though I wish they'd chosen a better mascot than Thaksin. Where do all you foreigners get your information from as to what the red shirts are about vs. what the yellow shirts are about? The media? The English-print media in Thailand hates Thaksin and the red shirts, so you're naturally going to see the yellow shirts' press releases being re-printed as news. Pick up a copy of Truth for Today or something and read one of the articles in English in the back -- you might be surprised to find what they are saying.

I see and hear a lot of comments from foreigners who don't really know what the red shirts are angry about. Your problem is that many of you don't speak Thai well, don't read or write Thai, and the Thais who can speak English are mostly yellow shirts. The red shirts aren't as educated and don't speak English as well, so you're not hearing their side accurately because it's being filtered to you through the intellectual elite and their agenda. You get to hear what the red shirts are about from their enemies. So many foreigners support the yellow shirts not fully realizing that the yellow shirts are majorly xenophobic while the red shirts welcome international influence and development.

The yellow shirts are the old rule aristocracy, an outdated form of rule based on class elitism. They do not represent the best for all of Thailand, but for a sector of Thailand. They are the educated elite who would like to keep the classes separate. They are the party who suggested giving more weight to votes from people registered in Bangkok than people living in rural areas, simply on the basis that they feel they are more educated and therefore more qualified to run the country. These people are often as white as white gets because they haven't worked a day in their life, they don't know what manual labor is, can't even appreciate it. It is these types who have Burmese maids living in the backs of their homes without even the slightest tinge of guilt. They actually think they're being generous to their house slaves. But it is the same policies of the yellow shirts which has made visas and work permits and foreigners being in Thailand such a nuisance and a hassle. It is their fear of "losing their country" to outsiders through economic means (not political) that fuels their decisions.

There has been a 60-year campaign to unite people over nationalistic pride even when they don't see eye-to-eye politically, but unfortunately what have been propagated as national values for all Thais are often veiled agendas aimed at pushing the aristocratic elite's xenophobic policies. Self-sufficiency economy is a way of saying let's retain economic control of our country by limiting outside influence. And don't forget it was the yellow shirts -- peaceful or not -- who shut down the airports. That should tell you something about how they view the international community and its role in Thailand. They don't much care for the foreigners in their country--they don't appreciate them, they don't want them. They tolerate them because they want their money, but they want to completely control it so that the foreigners become financial cashcows while Thais direct the money flow.

Red shirts are angry for a very good reason. Their country is not a democracy and has not been for at least four years. Democracy is the great equalizer to the lower classes, to the poor, to the underprivileged and uneducated -- it gives them a voice for change in their direction. Whether Thaksin was a bad guy or not is a moot point. There should have been due process -- all of the investigations which have come up after the coup should have been done through proper channels to oust him legally. The coup leaders have eroded their own legal and political system, and their political tactics have more to do with the cult of personality than with infrastructure, systems or laws. I say go Red shirts. Get your country back, get your democracy back, get your hope and your freedom back, get your opportunity back.

I don. ’t know how many on this forum happened to see the Rageh Omaar documentary “ Thailand: Warring Colours “ shown on Al jazeera two or three weeks ago ? This is more balanced analysis of the situation than you will ever get from locally based media.

Here is part of it on YouTube and I have also posted Rageh Omaar’s Facebook page with links to the whole 1 hour documentary.

http://peacemakers.ca.etherwork.net/bullet...arring-colours/

http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=6738...&comments=1

I often wonder how many on this forum that attack the red shirts so vehemently have really tried understand the views of rural people ?

[christcourt]

So this time when a red shirt puts a canister of petrol on a gas cylinder - we have reason to pull the trigger? If that is not an act of terrorism then Tacky is innocent! What idiots...

At least as war has been declared the grey area of legality of firing weapons is removed. I wonder what the poor Isaarn farmer will think when they cop a bullet? Was that worth 100 Baht? But like the dopey British in the Khyber Pass - at least the red shirts will make it less bloody to look at! I thought we reached the 21st century?

The British at the Khyber Pass had Red Coats I believe. And Red shirts far out number the Army and Yellow Perils. The so called war is a nonstarter due to the junior ranks coming from the poor, less well off. Lets Kick this Idiot into jail as the Red Coats I mean Shirts can do without this Bullshit. Another Yellow newspaper dribble, drumming up support for the Government to tread on the poor masses I think.

[AleG]

I appointed myself a leader of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship.

I think this bozo doesn't have a firm grasp of the term "democracy".

[ScubaBuddha]

appoints himself head of a democratic alliance?

Excellent point!

[ilyushin]

There goes his pension and benefits. Hopefully his new sponsers have big budgets.

Funny he was at one time was an influencial officer in the RTA.

[jdinasia]

So this time when a red shirt puts a canister of petrol on a gas cylinder - we have reason to pull the trigger? If that is not an act of terrorism then Tacky is innocent! What idiots...

At least as war has been declared the grey area of legality of firing weapons is removed. I wonder what the poor Isaarn farmer will think when they cop a bullet? Was that worth 100 Baht? But like the dopey British in the Khyber Pass - at least the red shirts will make it less bloody to look at! I thought we reached the 21st century?

The British at the Khyber Pass had Red Coats I believe. And Red shirts far out number the Army and Yellow Perils. The so called war is a nonstarter due to the junior ranks coming from the poor, less well off. Lets Kick this Idiot into jail as the Red Coats I mean Shirts can do without this Bullshit. Another Yellow newspaper dribble, drumming up support for the Government to tread on the poor masses I think.

Apparently you think that the "reds" outnumber the army? LOL

But honestly you need to do a bit more research about the Army and about the reds ... and then maybe you should listen to the guy's own words and look at his website With a "LEADER" like this one no stories have to be cooked up by anyone. All it takes is sitting back for the guy to open his mouth next!

[jdinasia]

Treason.

Firing squad.

End of.

I think its about time us Farang kept out of Thai politic,s,and making comments they know nothing about....I,m not going to take sides only to say this,when Thaskin was over thrown by the military, the only response from the USA, was to halt military aid,perhaps people forget Honduras?

Sanctions, and so forth,Thaskin WAS LEGALLY ELECTED and it should have been up to the Thai people to vote him out if they so wished,the current Thai P.M. hasnt been elected by the people,incidently neither has Gordon Brown of the UK.

The current political impasse isnt going to be sorted out anytime soon,those that organised and took part in removing Thaskin, should be brought to book and not allowed to retire or whatever, perhaps they also should have ALL their assets seized until they have explained where in the Military code it says you can over throw an elected government.

Unfortunately in Thailand the military over the years have removed various elected officials and i can not see them changing anytime soon.

In a democracy it's ok for anyone to comment on politics since that's how we find out about the different views. If the press is biased it may be our only way and unless a farang has obtained Thai citizenship they can't vote so comment is all they can do.

You should check your facts on Gordon Brown and UK electoral practice though. I believe this is roughly what happens although if anyone wants to correct me feel free.

In parliamentary elections the residents in a constituency vote for the candidate of their choice who may or may not be a member of a particular party although obviously they usually are. The winning candidate takes their seat in the House of Commons as one part of the parliament. the other being the House of Lords. Gordon Brown is the member of parliament for Kircaldy and Cowdenbeath as he was elected by that constituency.

The party with the most members is asked by the Queen to form a government and that party chooses it's leader who becomes Prime Minister or although the original title , which is on the door of number 10 Downing Street , First Lord of the Treasury. The Prime Minister only has power as far as his elected members allow him and ultimately parliament itself.

I'm not sure about the Thai parliament and Prime Minister but perhaps I should take some time to do so.

I had to do the same when I found out that Thailand had a King. A total surprise since he has been on the throne for so long and is so important to Thai people. Seems a good man from looking at the uncensored internet from here in the UK. An example maybe?

The same people that elected Samak and Thaksin's brother-in-law elected the current PM. The guy can cry all he wants but this government is as legitimate as the last 2.

[SabaiBKK]

Thaksin was a cancer for Thailand, a self serving miscreant who gave to the poor with the right hand to better take from them with his left hand ..... its not because a majority of the voters are brainwashed by populist propaganda that the "elected" leader is not a dangerous one for the country .... it was so obvious ( at least if you have half a brain and can understand what is going on) that Thaksin and his mafia style government were blindly robbing Thailand dry.... Thais should forget about Thaksin and move on .... give a chance to Abhisit until next elections at least to be able to make a bilan at some point ..... but they should reject all the old dinosaurs of thai politics and ask for new blood ........ one thing you have to understand about Thailand is that being a politician here is not by ideology , its just a business .... the PM sells the ministry posts to whom can afford to pay the most ..... then they have to be corrupt if they want to recoup their investments ..... please read monsoon country and the force of kharma from issan author [bPira Sudham[/b] .... you may well learn something or two ....

There is much that is inaccurate and superficial in the above , being reinforced with not a little arrogance that I feel the need to point out that Thaksin used a "dual track" strategy of mixing neoliberalism with grassroots Keynesianism. Believing that the poor must not be left out and had a record of real pro-poor policies such as the heath care scheme. However, Abhisit governemnet are hard-line monetarists. They instigate interest rate hikes to cut down spending on the poor and to squeeze wages and favour of military coups, per se, and reducing the number of elected parliamentarians and senators and increasing the power of unelected bureaucrats and the army. The justification for this is the belief that the poor majority in the country are too stupid to be given the vote. They are not happy in just creating the new coup but were happy to whip up hatred of Cambodia and risk a war over an ancient Khmer temple. The PAD strategy, was, as outlined by Pipop Thongchai, to create enough political chaos so that institutions and parties are destroyed and a "new order" arises from the ashes. Needless to say, this "new order" is neither democratic nor committed to social justice and equality.

So much for thew great bulk of what you've written, and perhaps the books that you've read are likewise so right wing as to off any democratic radar too. But I somehow doubt that is the case.

man you speak like a UDD leaflet, you mix the Yellow with the Abhisit government, you do not see further that Thaksin finger pointing at the moon, and you write so badly that its a pain to read your babble ..... good luck convincing anyone this way ... ohhh and as far as the Abhisit government instigating hatred of cambodia .... i almost pissed my pants in laughter .... are you for real? edit: Pira Sudham's books right wing??,???? you cannot be serious !!!! you must be a poser

Edited January 23, 2010 by SabaiBKK

[Jingthing]

man you speak like a UDD leaflet,

Well some have asserted we have some professional propagandists posting here. Why they would bother trying to influence foreigner's opinions is anyone's guess.

Edited January 23, 2010 by Jingthing

[rixalex]

The justification for this is the belief that the poor majority in the country are too stupid to be given the vote.

What's your justification for writing this untrue twaddle?

[SabaiBKK]

just some facts for the pro Thaksin guys:

Thaksin forced the central bank of thailand to lend Billions of baht to burma ( when everyone was against) so Burma could buy telecoms equipments from shin corp , of course everyone know that Burma could never repay the loan ..... this is a clever way of siphoning the state's coffers into one's pocket.

Thaksin evaded taxes by saying the ferarri and benz not declared belonged to his maid and gardener

Thaksin declared phiphi island a non construction zone after the tsunami and then bought all the land for a handful of rice .... then reversed the ruling to develop the island again

thaksin inflamed the south in order for the price of land there to drop and buy thousands of raïs ( him , proxies and cronies )

thaksin bought 80% of the land in koh chang then said that koh chang was out of bounds for backpackers

thaksin lent millions of baht from the state coffers to his sons animation company to make an animation film

thaksin permitted to the farmers to put their land deed in the bank for money , knowing they would not be able to repay , then their land gets grabbed by thaksin's banking cronnies.... of course the money was used to buy telephone cards from thaksin ....

ohh and the 30 baht health scheme .... well rich idea , but there is no funds for doctors and drugs go with a broken arm and your 30 baht card to a state hospital and all you will get after a 5 hours wait is a couple of paracetamol pills and if you are lucky some amoxicylin

and this is just a taste of things Thaksin did for Thailand not even speaking about human rights violations and intimidation of right activists....

[ray23]

Did the Nation yank this story I don't see it there now?

[SirMarjAlot]

Have recently been wondering what has happened to all this, personally after seeing all that violence on tv sometime back has been a big contributor to what has now kept me away from Thailand. Something that deep does not go away where half the nation wear red shirts the other yellow, makings of a civil war if i have ever seen one. Would not like to be caught out there when it really kicks off!