Red Mood Of Resignation, Anger And Defiance : Thaksin's Supporters

[webfact]

THAKSIN'S SUPPORTERS

Red mood of resignation, anger and defiance

By Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The collective mood of the 30 or so red shirts who gathered outside the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon to listen to the verdict in former premier Thaksin Shinawatra's assets-seizure case was one of resignation, anger and defiance.

Most knew they should expect the worse for their beloved politician, now in exile in Dubai.

Prior to the completion of the marathon reading out of the controversial verdict, some had already admitted perhaps their hero was somewhat corrupt. However, they asked which Thai politicians were not, adding that they still loved Thaksin and believed he had done more for Thailand than any other prime minister.

At 4pm, four red shirts stood in front of the main gate of the Supreme Court, each holding a banner.

One in English read: "Whatever happens, we believe in you, PM Thaksin."

Another read: "We shall seek justice until ... truth shall prevail."

Even as the verdict was being read in midafternoon, most of the red shirts believed most if not all of Thakin's family assets would be "illegitimately" seized by the Supreme Court.

One supporter was asked by a South Korean journalist why he had bothered to turn up at all and what difference it would make.

A 56-year-old former stock-market player, who asked only to be referred to as "Pi", replied it was like visiting a very ill patient whom you love.

"You go there even if the patient may end up dying. We love and feel sorry for him. If [Thaksin] is such a bad person, how could millions of people love him?" said Pi, adding that he was angry that Thaksin's enemies had pushed him to the point the former premier had "nowhere to stand".

At 7pm, when much of the verdict had been delivered - including a declaration that Thaksin was guilty of abuse of power and corruption - another supporter accused the court of having already decided well before the trial began what to do with the so-called "ill-gotten wealth" that was frozen after the September 19, 2006 coup.

"It's a charade. They'd already decided in advance," a man said bitterly, wearing a cab driver's short-sleeved shirt.

Rakchart Ruammoowithaya, one of the few red shirts comfortable enough to reveal his name, was one of the most vocal in the crowd, carrying a portable loudspeaker and donning a red "People Love Thaksin Club" jacket.

He condemned the court, saying: "Red shirts do not respect the court. It's better to pay respect to the spirit house or City Shrine, as one can at least try to get a lucky lottery number out of them."

He added that the whole process was undemocratic and a sham.

Once in a while, some of the red shirts would shout out in a fit of anger, as anti-riot police who tightly guarded the court's perimeter looked on.

"This is Thailand! Those with power take whatever they like!" one man yelled.

Some were worn out by the strong early-summer afternoon heat, while others left in a pickup to join a bigger crowd at the pro-Thaksin Pheu Thai Party's head office instead.

Another 150 or so were to be found at a nearby stage at a rally in Sanam Luang organised by the Red Siam leftist red-shirt faction, with 500 more showing up at about 10pm.

Prospective members queued up to join Red Siam and receive ID tags sporting the name of the pro-Thaksin group, the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship.

-- The Nation 2010-02-27

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[Cayenne]

I don't know what they are so sad about- Thaksin actually losing his money or them not getting paid anymore

[PoorSucker]

"This is Thailand! Those with power take whatever they like!" one man yelled.

So it was OK for Thaksin to take whatever he wanted?

[h90]

I don't know what they are so sad about- Thaksin actually losing his money or them not getting paid anymore

Not only he is loosing money....many of his supporters as well

[Mario2008]

I think Taksin is being discussed in many other threads all ready. Let's stick it here to the "reds" sentiments. The country is devided and reconsiliation is very important.

The question is how to do that.

[Sojourner]

This is really a small amount of money in comparison to the money Thailand generates in tax revenue, however I would hope PM Abhisit has already worked out a plan to return the money to his people and be color blind in doing so.

[oceano]

You know is simple impossibile. They must have somethings to complain, somethings for fight.

I think we all know well the mind at this point, it's sad but how many decades is now that nothings change?

We can only hope that for a long period now they stay quite but we know one day somethings start again.

roberto

Edited February 27, 2010 by oceano

[oceano]

This is really a small amount of money in comparison to the money Thailand generates in tax revenue, however I would hope PM Abhisit has already worked out a plan to return the money to his people and be color blind in doing so.

If the 95% of the people in Thailand pay the tax, also only the 1% on what they gain, the Thailand will be the most rich country in asia, they have already take back the money, everyday they dont pay 1 bath to the governament.

[PeaceBlondie]

Boyfriend said last night how Thaksin was basically the savior of the North. I didn't argue, but I don't believe it. My opinion doesn't matter.

[Insight]

As far as I see, there's two telling events ahead:

#1 - How the SET and baht will react on Monday given the verdict - think this will reveal if people's confidence in Thailand has been damaged or has been improved.

#2 - How many people will turn up for this last, final, ultimate, this-is-it million-billion-trillion-man anti-everything-not-Thaksin march, whenever it is.

Still, nothing seems to be able to stop the BBC having a really crap Thaksin-PR-sprinkled analysis on the situation, from the viewpoint of a self-proclaimed ex-commie.

[mca]

from the viewpoint of a self-proclaimed ex-commie.

Right On! Heaven forbid that they should have a different viewpoint to your own. The sheer audacity!

[Donnyboy]

As far as I see, there's two telling events ahead:

#1 - How the SET and baht will react on Monday given the verdict - think this will reveal if people's confidence in Thailand has been damaged or has been improved.

#2 - How many people will turn up for this last, final, ultimate, this-is-it million-billion-trillion-man anti-everything-not-Thaksin march, whenever it is.

Still, nothing seems to be able to stop the BBC having a really crap Thaksin-PR-sprinkled analysis on the situation, from the viewpoint of a self-proclaimed ex-commie.

imo

#1 business as usual

#2 wont be anywhere near 1 million, they have infighting about this last stand, but i do have concerns of violence like most ppl here

[webfact]

Please continue to discuss the topic here:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thailand-Ale...gh-t342791.html

//CLOSED//