Red-shirt Demonstrators At Soi Dao Golf Course

[Steve2UK]

By THE NATION ON SUNDAY

Published on January 24, 2010

About 2,000 red-shirt demonstrators began gathering outside the controversial Soi Dao golf course in Chantaburi yesterday with more joining by evening.

The protest leaders prepared to criticise the golf club owners who they claim encroached on a national forest and had Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanond as their adviser.

Police said the crowd was smaller than the expected 5,000 people as they dispatched a helicopter to hover over the site to keep a watch on the rally.

Pol Major Itthiphon Piriyapinyo said some demonstrators spread false news that 1,000 armed Navy officers in camouflage had been stationed at the golf course owned by banker Chatri Sophonpanich.

Itthiphon said only 100 Navy officers had been deployed to help the 600 police on hand in case any violence breaks out.

Veera Muskaphong, a leader of |the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD), took the stage to tell the crowd amid fears of a violent crackdown that the Interior Ministry must guarantee the safety of the red shirts.

He also urged the Forestry Department and other agencies to come clean about the allegation that the golf resort intrudes on a protected forest even as other DAAD leaders prepared to attack Chatri and Prem on stage.

Chantaburi Governor Poonsak Pranuchnarapan said the red shirts have the right to assemble in peace but if something gets damaged, they would be charged according to the law.

Traffic had become congested in the area although some local and foreign golfers appeared undaunted and were seen still making their rounds as of yesterday.

-- The Nation January 24, 2010

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2010/01/24...cs_30121006.php

[givenall]

I think is about time for these guys to understand people really don’t care about their movement and it is all about Mr. T. interest not the nation interest.

Or may be Mr. T budget for demonstrator is dwindling and he can’t afford to pay for big demonstration any more

[RickBradford]

If they restrict their activities to pointing out and publicizing obvious abuses of power and acts of corruption by the ruling elite, while not attempting to directly confront the status quo, they might begin to regain some respect.

[rixalex]

If they restrict their activities to pointing out and publicizing obvious abuses of power and acts of corruption by the ruling elite, while not attempting to directly confront the status quo, they might begin to regain some respect.

Agreed. This sort of activity is so much more productive than gathering in Bangkok waiting for the star guest to phone in. OK, so they are being very selective in who they target, but at least it's an in-road. It's what the yellows should have been doing when they were all sitting at the airport, disrupting the lives of innocents.

[londonthai]

I think is about time for these guys to understand people really don’t care about their movement

enviroment, ecology, natural habitat and natural resources, cutting teekwood forests - for the benefit of the bank owner (he himself owns this golf cource) and his collegues

[ballpoint]

If they restrict their activities to pointing out and publicizing obvious abuses of power and acts of corruption by the ruling elite, while not attempting to directly confront the status quo, they might begin to regain some respect.

I agree that the exposing of corruption is a noble goal, and if the red shirts limit their activities to this sort of thing they would be doing themselves a huge favour. However, I also wonder why it's not possible for an independant group of concerned citizens to start the same sort of thing? Peaceful protest against all corruption, whether it be by government, opposition, military, police, big business, or private citizen. Like it or not, the red shirts are simply following an agenda. I doubt very much that their leaders have suddenly had a concern for corruption in Thai society, and wish to see it eradicated; they have simply chosen this tactic as the next step in targetting the perceived enemy. I have no doubt that there are those in the movement who do have a genuine desire to fight corruption however, just as there will be many in their movement who have a genuine desire to change Thai politics, and not just call for Thaksin's return. The same applies to the yellows. I just wonder why the need to associate with a group that is intimately linked to, indeed, some would say tainted by, Thaksin and violence as a means to achieve your aims? It's a bit like denouncing facism, but never the less still joining the National Front because you don't like the mainstream parties. Why not find another way of registering your protest, and agitating for change? Why is there no real alternative between the status quo, and Thaksin coming back? Until a real grassroots leader comes along, with no agenda either way, and survives being bought out, shot, or "disappeared" by the current powers (and I don't just mean the current government, but the whole system, including opposition, military and exiles), Thailand will forever remain mired in the same dirty mix of politics and military as always, whether Thaksin comes back or not. It seems to me that an orchestrated campaign to expose corruption, similar to this redshirt tactic, but totally independant and aiming for those on all sides, would be a good first step.

Edited January 24, 2010 by ballpoint

[Thai at Heart]

When you realise that a certain member of the Sophonpanich family was front and centre with the leaders of the PAD (whilst being part of the Dems party)during their first abortive attempt to get into government house in 2006, you can see why going after this kind of thing is so satisfying for the reds. She beat a very hasty retreat to the back of the lines after this one obvious escapade.

It is public, if the golf course is on the wrong land it is extremely easy to prove, it is something that doesn't need to go to court to get a guilty verdict in the eye of the public, and it shows that the so called elite of the country cannot be held in much higher esteem than others.

I can understand people wanting the general public to stand up and point out all the failings of all parties. Gently, gently, the events here in are a massive step in the right direction for the country anyway.

[waza]

If they restrict their activities to pointing out and publicizing obvious abuses of power and acts of corruption by the ruling elite, while not attempting to directly confront the status quo, they might begin to regain some respect.

Agreed. This sort of activity is so much more productive than gathering in Bangkok waiting for the star guest to phone in. OK, so they are being very selective in who they target, but at least it's an in-road. It's what the yellows should have been doing when they were all sitting at the airport, disrupting the lives of innocents.

THey were, they targeted the corruption and unlawfull actiities of Thaskin and his proxies.

[animatic]

I suspect some of their more rational leaders read TVF or get reports on what we say.

We have harped on this for some time.

I wonder how they will handle this attempt at appearing even handed?

I also wonder if this is a reasonable faction of the reds breaking away

from the harder core because they ARE actually anti-corruption; 'red renegades',

or if this is a put on by propaganda leadership for appearances, only not expecting it to do much?

[rixalex]

It seems to me that an orchestrated campaign to expose corruption, similar to this redshirt tactic, but totally independant and aiming for those on all sides, would be a good first step.

It would be fantastic. Trouble is, anyone with enough clout and muscle (not physically) to get such a campaign off the ground has probably themselves at one stage or other flexed certain laws - there aren't many powerful people here who haven't.

Perhaps it could happen if there was a mainstream pop star / actor who was a household name and who was politically-minded - say a cross between Lennon and Pee Bird - now there's a thought.

[RickBradford]

However, I also wonder why it's not possible for an independant group of concerned citizens to start the same sort of thing? Peaceful protest against all corruption, whether it be by government, opposition, military, police, big business, or private citizen.

I think the average Thai citizen has too much to lose.

The moment you start agitating against corruption, you earn the displeasure of powerful, amoral, vindictive bullies. Thais, especially better-off urban types, don't want to potentially have their lives ruined by these nasty and spiteful people.

Maybe the Red Shirts figure they have little enough to lose, or that there are too many of them, or that they are big and ugly enough to look after themselves.

[rixalex]

THey were, they targeted the corruption and unlawfull actiities of Thaskin and his proxies.

The location of the airport for the sit-in protest i don't think was chosen because of the corruption and unlawfull activities of Thaskin associated with that place, but to do with causing major disruption and putting the government under pressure. It worked of course but to my mind they should have done it elsewhere.

[mca]

Trouble is, anyone with enough clout and muscle (not physically) to get such a campaign off the ground has probably themselves at one stage or other flexed certain laws - there aren't many powerful people here who haven't.

To me this is the crux of the matter. It always has been. It doesn't matter who. Police, army, politicians, whoever. It doesn't matter which colour you wear. Thaksin is but one zit on the face of it. It's a never ending vicious circle.

Let's say I work my way to the top by being completely devious, inscrutable and immoral with my own agenda. Now I'm the main man. What's my next move? Surround myself with people who're equally as devious, inscrutable and immoral with the same agenda as me. Am I going to be dumb enough to have someone in a position of real power on my team who doesn't approve of my ways? Someone to rock the boat? Don't think so. Is the biggest meth dealer going to have one of his lieutenants who's got a conscience about selling to schoolkids working for him?

I remember a story in the press a few years back (if you can believe the press of course). It's always stuck in my mind. Apologies for paraphrasing.

There was a village up north where these huge trucks used to blast through the village at full speed. Naturally the residents were concerned that somebody was going to be killed and talked to a local cop. The next time these trucks came through like something out of Mad Max the cop pulled them over. Check papers, issue tickets etc.

Back at the cop shop the police chief escorted the cop to the house of the Puu Yai trucking company owner and (I shit you not) made the cop prostrate himself before the owner and apologize for stopping his trucks.

To me this is LOS in a nutshell. We can do page after page after page until the server crashes but to me this is it.

[rixalex]

Thaksin is but one zit on the face of it.

The Thaksin zit analogy works for me.

(And before you rush to remind me, yes i know he's not the only zit!)

[RickBradford]

To me this is LOS in a nutshell.

Then we should be calling it FLOS, the Feudal Land of Smiles, where power is everything and impartial civic institutions are unknown or marginalized.

[Fishbucket]

Well , if the red shirts were not demonstrating at Soi Dao, who else would be?

If these thieves and robbers have mugged the national park then they have to be exposed.

Just like that loathsome surayad, its only the reds who are going to expose them.

Well done reds keep up this sort of drip drip attention to the yellow shirts fraud and corruption.

And, if it is found that there is wrong doing here, let the guilty be punished in the hilton.

Abisit, that champion of thai human rights, should lower his head in shame at these land grabs.

Keep up the chase reds, there is only you in thailand who will expose it.

Abisit is doing his best to cover it all up.

[elshaheen]

So, who won the game? Reds or the whites?

[Whale]

Lets look at some numbers about the Eastern Forest Complex (of which Soi Dao is a part):

1. Existing forest areas of 1982, 1988 and 1993 were 3,562.58 km2, 2,955.89 km2 and 2,801.57 km2 respectively.

2. Forest encroachment area during 1982-1988 was 606.69 km2 or forest depletion rate was 101.12 km2/year.

3. Forest encroachment area during 1988-1993 was 154.32 km2 or forest depletion rate was 30.86 km2/year.

I have no interest in Thai politics but encroachment is an issue I am happy to see being brought to everyone's attention.

I am off to hug some more trees now.

[hammered]

I am still waiting for the reds to start demoing at the Alpine golf course over double standards.

[Samuian]

I am still waiting for the reds to start demoing at the Alpine golf course over double standards.

and one can take it for granted that -

a.) it's only the very tip of the iceberg,

and

b.) it will never happen!

Because it is all only about blackmailing certain group of people, certainly NOT about accountability and transparency!

I would be really surprised if this turns out otherwise!

[Thai at Heart]

I am still waiting for the reds to start demoing at the Alpine golf course over double standards.

Right now, this is political finger pointing, and all is fair in love and war as they say. People have known about these stories of encroachment for donkeys years, it's just that no one ever threw the light of day on the truth.

Half of this political mess has been about taking the supposed moral high ground. Unfortunately, it would appear that taking the high ground, is all relative in a country as low lying metaphorically and literally as Thailand. What it appears, is that most if not all of the political protagonists are merely inches above the water level and the monsoon is on the way. I say good, hopefully over time, this will drown a lot of them on all sides.

These supposed do gooder, honest, upstanding, defenders of the country, loyalists, aren't quite as squeaky clean as they appear. Were they ever?

Edited January 25, 2010 by Thai at Heart

[CLOD]

Maps out, Measures out, Prem out.

Apply the law.

[binky]

<deleted>, a golf course!?!

[animatic]

No one gets kicked out for honorary positions in golf associations.

But I guess you must go after Prem, since no one dares go any higher

to spread disinformation and bellicoseness. GOOD!