Gen Chaovalit Appointed As Supreme Commander Of People's Army Of Thailand

[BlueSmurf]

So is the point at issue what is good for one individual, or what is good for 65+ million of them? Do people feel that the country will be saved or in even deeper <deleted> if the former PM returns? A "People's Army"? Have "the People"" been asked whether they want such an army, what its objectives are, who is in it and who is out, what it intends to achieve? Does not seem all that democratic if no-one was consulted. Just which "People" does this army represent?

Anyway, better stock up on food, water, and fuel...it may be a long time before the "victor" emerges. Let's hope there is something left worth winning at the end.

It will be a nightmare for Thailand if Thaksin returns..For one not many forign governments will deal with him! He is banned from entering most countries.In the case of the Uk it was not because he was a fugitive from Thailand but because of his human rights record and his past activities. The reds have just moved into Chiang Rai and set up outside the army camp...

[junglist]

First thing this post brought to mind was that recently sequestered aircraft that landed in Bangkok full of weaponry.

This is what I believe also. Why would Iran want older weapons then what they are currently using? Thailand does need a revolution but not of hate and greed but one of the mind. The poor need to be treated better and educated soon or the wealthy will find them in a hard place of existence.

Pray for Peace but Prepare for War.

[h90]

Thaksin's "People's Army of Thailand".

Treason is one of the first things that springs to mind.

Unfortunately, this will harden the resolve of the judges rather than intimidate them IMO.

Well if I found a People's Army in my country (I would than call it "Volksarmee"), within hours, Police and different kind of secret services would jump on me.....

Good point H90. People's Amry sound really like Vietnam, North Korea and other communist country armies. Why would someone choose a stupid name like that? I wonder...

Because most of Thaksins guys are former communist/socialist movement. A lot symbols are borrowed from them.

The red color, peoples uprising, uprising of the masses against the elite. A lot of these communist talk....just a bit outdated.

Of course communist ideas and Thaksin doesn't fit together. No way a communist can have a super rich corrupt capitalist as leader.

[Briggsy]

His name appears to have been spelt incorrectly which is most surprising for an ex-prime minister.

[snowflake]

Why can't the government just give him his money (did he not make most of it legally)?

Why do they have to make so much problems... Invite Thaksin back, have a new election (1 person 1 vote)... Get the UN or someone inn to control the voting... The losers would bend down and agree to work for the best of the country, improve the lives of all Thais.

I think that the current government is worried that Thaksin would win again, even if he has been out of the country for several years... Last time there was an election, who won? (yes, everyone buys votes, that is how they do it here).

PS. Do you guys think that Thaksin got a fair trial?

Is this whole thing just a power play from him in hope that he will get his money?

Why are they still holding his money? If he evaded Taxes, deduct that, send him the rest and tell him to never come back.

I think most of the problems now are fulled by the newspapers so they can sell more, stop writing about this, don't let people read about everything (NO MORE FREE PRESS) and it might go away, or will it?

I feel sorry for Thailand, BUT, what comes around, goes around...

[coconutmonkey]

First thing this post brought to mind was that recently sequestered aircraft that landed in Bangkok full of weaponry.

That's an interesting link.....

Is that why no one has been charged....?

Is that why they came from N. Korea, despite The former Soviet Union having loads of cheaper weaponry?

The fuel transfer cost would be much cheaper.....

[h90]

So is the point at issue what is good for one individual, or what is good for 65+ million of them? Do people feel that the country will be saved or in even deeper <deleted> if the former PM returns? A "People's Army"? Have "the People"" been asked whether they want such an army, what its objectives are, who is in it and who is out, what it intends to achieve? Does not seem all that democratic if no-one was consulted. Just which "People" does this army represent?

Anyway, better stock up on food, water, and fuel...it may be a long time before the "victor" emerges. Let's hope there is something left worth winning at the end.

It will be a nightmare for Thailand if Thaksin returns..For one not many forign governments will deal with him! He is banned from entering most countries.In the case of the Uk it was not because he was a fugitive from Thailand but because of his human rights record and his past activities. The reds have just moved into Chiang Rai and set up outside the army camp...

the worse thing is that he'll want to have a revenge.

And all the South will be very upset

[Paul123456]

How long before we see Thaksins 'Long March' from Pnom Phen to Bangkok with a Pattaya rest stop?

I would presume that he would do it exactly the same way that Mao did his, carried over hill and dale by his loyal servants.

It isn't likely, but you know what, in this mad place called Thailand, it could happen. It maybe the stuff of movies but, just ponder for a while.

If it did happen, what actually would the army do? I wouldn't expect the police to do much, and if he did get 50k people to join at the beginning and start walking, what would be the odds that by then end he wouldn't have an enormous amount (a million+ or even more)of people?

Ha ha - Thais generally can't manage to walk 5m to the 7/11. They need to ride a motorbike. So, if Thaksin achieves that, it will be a miracle.

[scorecard]

Update:

PM Abhisit: Thaksin's new 'people's army' will cause chaos in country; rules out talks with Gen Chavalit, leader of Thaksin force.

-- TNA 2010-02-04

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

i have it on very good authority that Abhisit is on the way out mainly as my sources say because he does not have friends in the right places to keep him in.

Wanna eloborate, what's you "good authority"?

your suggestion flies in the face of numerous poles etc.

The public support for the Abhisit / Korn team is growing continuously.

[barryofthailand]

As far as I'm concerned, their all criminals. If they break the law, lock them all up.

Barry

[h90]

First thing this post brought to mind was that recently sequestered aircraft that landed in Bangkok full of weaponry.

and a question would be, about what they did not catch.....

[Meridian007]

The reds have just moved into Chiang Rai and set up outside the army camp...

Where did you hear about this? Does anyone else have reports of reds near other military bases? With their smaller numbers, (of those willing to fight, not the 500Baht granny brigade), I would think that the reds would gang together in one place to create a unified "people's army", but maybe they have a different strategy?

----------------------

On a side note, why are the numbers of readers always blocked out for contentious issues? I see from the main page that there are 4832 guests, 952 members, 26 anonymous members, and that this post has gotten 2522 page views, but there isn't any indicator at the bottom of the page of who is reading it now. Is this to stop hysteria? Groupthink? I'm just curious...

[BlueSmurf]

Why can't the government just give him his money (did he not make most of it legally)?

Why do they have to make so much problems... Invite Thaksin back, have a new election (1 person 1 vote)... Get the UN or someone inn to control the voting... The losers would bend down and agree to work for the best of the country, improve the lives of all Thais.

I think that the current government is worried that Thaksin would win again, even if he has been out of the country for several years... Last time there was an election, who won? (yes, everyone buys votes, that is how they do it here).

PS. Do you guys think that Thaksin got a fair trial?

Is this whole thing just a power play from him in hope that he will get his money?

Why are they still holding his money? If he evaded Taxes, deduct that, send him the rest and tell him to never come back.

I think most of the problems now are fulled by the newspapers so they can sell more, stop writing about this, don't let people read about everything (NO MORE FREE PRESS) and it might go away, or will it?

I feel sorry for Thailand, BUT, what comes around, goes around...

The reds want Thaksin back as they get a share of his/Thailands money passed down through the heads of villages! Simple as that.Its all about greed.

[h90]

Why can't the government just give him his money (did he not make most of it legally)?

Why do they have to make so much problems... Invite Thaksin back, have a new election (1 person 1 vote)... Get the UN or someone inn to control the voting... The losers would bend down and agree to work for the best of the country, improve the lives of all Thais.

I think that the current government is worried that Thaksin would win again, even if he has been out of the country for several years... Last time there was an election, who won? (yes, everyone buys votes, that is how they do it here).

PS. Do you guys think that Thaksin got a fair trial?

Is this whole thing just a power play from him in hope that he will get his money?

Why are they still holding his money? If he evaded Taxes, deduct that, send him the rest and tell him to never come back.

I think most of the problems now are fulled by the newspapers so they can sell more, stop writing about this, don't let people read about everything (NO MORE FREE PRESS) and it might go away, or will it?

I feel sorry for Thailand, BUT, what comes around, goes around...

No only he evaded Taxes, there are another 20 corruption cases. Think of any other country. You evaded tax and if you get catched they simply deduct the tax and no further problems??

And what about the 3000 people Thaksin killed?? Never mind....just forget about it?

[asiawatcher]

So you have no problem if the army slaughters thousands of innocent civilians like they have done countless times in the past.

Do you think the people have no right to defend themselves against this evil ?

Whaaa??? When red shirts take bottles of LPG and hang petrol on them and commandeer busses, set fire to them, and the army does not retaliate and kill anyone - I would think the path to democracy has a chance. But when the red shirts kill innocent people you choose to ignore this? If it were me - I would have shot the terrorists in the act of placing bombs and sent the message. No - innocent people are not getting killed by the army and the only evil here is an exiled assh**e, a convicted criminal trying to incite the people to riot to try to regain his ill gotten spoils. Narcissistic sociopath comes to mind - and you support this??? Get a life!

[BlueSmurf]

The reds have just moved into Chiang Rai and set up outside the army camp...

Where did you hear about this? Does anyone else have reports of reds near other military bases? With their smaller numbers, (of those willing to fight, not the 500Baht granny brigade), I would think that the reds would gang together in one place to create a unified "people's army", but maybe they have a different strategy?

----------------------

On a side note, why are the numbers of readers always blocked out for contentious issues? I see from the main page that there are 4832 guests, 952 members, 26 anonymous members, and that this post has gotten 2522 page views, but there isn't any indicator at the bottom of the page of who is reading it now. Is this to stop hysteria? Groupthink? I'm just curious...

I have poseted this as a separate topic.Yes I have seen them .They have moved to the entrance where the army golf course is..There were only about 30 people there first thing, but had a mobile stage, loud speakers etc.About 10 trucks/cars.

[TheyCallmeScooter]

Surely it's obvious now that Thaksin is acting purely in his own interests.

I'm a big fan of Abisit - but I held sympathies for Thaksin initially [as I would any politician who was deposed in undemocratic fashion]...but now, Thaksin just seems pathetic and desperate no?

Didn't it turn out that he was paying most of the Red Shirts during Songkran last year? Does he have any genuine political influence left?

[Thai at Heart]

Good point H90. People's Amry sound really like Vietnam, North Korea and other communist country armies. Why would someone choose a stupid name like that? I wonder...

Because most of Thaksins guys are former communist/socialist movement. A lot symbols are borrowed from them.

The red color, peoples uprising, uprising of the masses against the elite. A lot of these communist talk....just a bit outdated.

Of course communist ideas and Thaksin doesn't fit together. No way a communist can have a super rich corrupt capitalist as leader.

By posing as the "Peoples Army" they automatically tap into an anti-army resentment. The army threatened and bought off whole areas of the North and North East to get rid of the communist threat when there appeared a chance for the commies to get a foothold in the countryside. The army quietened down the commies in the countryside and then everyone be it politicians, business or army did absolutely NOTHING for them. There was no plan for real rural development and this has been going on for the last 40 years.

Thaksin doesn't have to be of the people, he simply needs to be for the people, because it isn't much of a competition when the only other alternative went to Eton and Oxford. Simple tabloid comparison, but nonetheless true.

Despite all their promises and supposed development, what happened? The commies didn't get in, the people were told stick with us come hel_l or high water and we will take care of you better than the commies (often this discussion was had at the end of a gun barrel) and the people stayed poor.

The poor have been hoodwinked over and over again in this country be it by politicians, the army, business or some others. Thaksin isn't their answer, but then maybe, he's better than anything else available?

[Scott]

The list of people viewing a topic is not always available. Depending on a number of factors, including traffic on the site, it will be left off. It has nothing to do with controlling information, preventing hysteria or other factors.

Meanwhile, back to the current topic.

[vlado1]

This has to be a <deleted> story or there is something very nasty brewing here.

I fear you may be right. This is all getting a little silly now.

this is absolutely ridiculous.....in my world this would be treason......the way I see it is every Thai is loyal to the monarchy which is the way it should be. however not every thai is loyal to his or her country and the sooner they, be it red , yellow, navy or colours of the rainbow, all realise that King & country are one and the same, then & only then can Thailand continue on a course of democracy.which I am sure is what most Thais want.

[bubba]

Is Thaksin still residing in Dubai? I recall that the authorities there stated that he would not be allowed to remain if he used UAE as a base to stage actions fomenting unrest in Thailand. Now that he has stated he is forming a private army with apparent treasonous intent, what will UAE do?

[WillArzonia]

Why can't the government just give him his money (did he not make most of it legally)?

Why do they have to make so much problems... Invite Thaksin back, have a new election (1 person 1 vote)... Get the UN or someone inn to control the voting... The losers would bend down and agree to work for the best of the country, improve the lives of all Thais.

I think that the current government is worried that Thaksin would win again, even if he has been out of the country for several years... Last time there was an election, who won? (yes, everyone buys votes, that is how they do it here).

PS. Do you guys think that Thaksin got a fair trial?

Is this whole thing just a power play from him in hope that he will get his money?

Why are they still holding his money? If he evaded Taxes, deduct that, send him the rest and tell him to never come back.

I think most of the problems now are fulled by the newspapers so they can sell more, stop writing about this, don't let people read about everything (NO MORE FREE PRESS) and it might go away, or will it?

I feel sorry for Thailand, BUT, what comes around, goes around...

"invite him back" and "tell him never to come back" -- good, well-thought argument!

[Thai at Heart]

Apparently Reds tried to protest at the Army Base in Khon Kaen this morning, but they were moved on by the army.

Increased barricades are up at the base with more security.

[tonywebster]

sorry to say this but you reap what you sew, and this aimed at both sides

umm, sow

thanks

[h90]

The reds have just moved into Chiang Rai and set up outside the army camp...

Where did you hear about this? Does anyone else have reports of reds near other military bases? With their smaller numbers, (of those willing to fight, not the 500Baht granny brigade), I would think that the reds would gang together in one place to create a unified "people's army", but maybe they have a different strategy?

----------------------

On a side note, why are the numbers of readers always blocked out for contentious issues? I see from the main page that there are 4832 guests, 952 members, 26 anonymous members, and that this post has gotten 2522 page views, but there isn't any indicator at the bottom of the page of who is reading it now. Is this to stop hysteria? Groupthink? I'm just curious...

I think davidwright is refering to the usual 500 Baht granny brigade which might stand in front of some army coup with footclapers demonstrating against a new military coup.....

At least I hope so. I can't imagine that the red can get any manpower for peoples army.

Someone always tries to spread the rumor that they have Myanmar merchants. But I doubt that anyone from outside want to really fight with the Thai Army.

[qualtrough]

sorry to say this but you reap what you sew, and this aimed at both sides

umm, sow

I think discussions about pigs are off-topic.

[losworld]

I think it is time to up the stakes and play hardball. If Thaksin is in Dubai then insist on his extradition. If it is not provided freeze all funds in Thailand and send all nationals from that country home.

[blazes]

On the positive side - Thailand does seem overpopulated. So perhaps the fact that certain elements in Thai society seem obsessed with pushing the country into a bloody civil war - it will at least have some positive outcome.

On the sad side - I, like many in this forum, came here as so many Thai people are wonderful, calm, caring and friendly. Just basically decent people. And Thai culture has been beautiful and has the potential to produce a cooperative harmonious society. Thailand is rich in natural resources and rich in its culture. It already has everything it needs to be a great place - but it seems all that will be thrown away and many of those decent people will have to suffer some more, so as 'elites' can struggle for power and money.

What a strange post. Your second paragraph sounds very reasonable but is undermined by the first. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you are joking or maybe you can be the first volunteer to help solve the problem of overpopulation in Thailand.

Actually, I would reverse it and say the first paragraph was the more intelligent. The second one makes assertions about "Thai culture".....what exactly is this "Thai culture" that is apparently a source of great beauty? Is Thailand today so very different from Medieval Europe where priests and the upper class held absolute sway...it required many uprisings and the intervention of Martin Thaksin Luther to start Europe on the road to Enlightenment.

[asiawatcher]

IMHO civil war is the only chance for the oppressed Thais to be freed. Let's hope Thaksin succeed in his revolution

Are you crazy? Do you realise what you're suggesting?

Certifiable - you need medical assistance...

I wonder if any of the underprivileged red shirts have figured out if 100 Baht a day is worth taking a bullet for the pox perpetrated by this convicted criminal, on Thai humanity?

[Brewsta]

So is the point at issue what is good for one individual, or what is good for 65+ million of them? Do people feel that the country will be saved or in even deeper <deleted> if the former PM returns? A "People's Army"? Have "the People"" been asked whether they want such an army, what its objectives are, who is in it and who is out, what it intends to achieve? Does not seem all that democratic if no-one was consulted. Just which "People" does this army represent?

Anyway, better stock up on food, water, and fuel...it may be a long time before the "victor" emerges. Let's hope there is something left worth winning at the end.

Worry not RMan...... go back to your sanuk sanuk..... unlikely to be another showdown in Dodge City today...

Better to stock up on the imported brews as the inevitable import tariffs will be raised to pay for any of this jaw-jaw....IMHO, naturally.

regards, Brewsta