Red Shirts Plan To Paralyse Bangkok, Topple Thai Government

[Moonrakers]

MCOT: Thaksin urges supporters: Don't give up, 'I'm a symbol of injustice'; Red Shirt fight no longer personal but public interest, true democracy

Quite possibly the truest words that he has ever spoken.

[alimike]

I really do not think that the tail wagging the dog is the best example of democracy.

In my humble opinion if the red shirts were looking down the barrel of a GPMG then 500 baht a day would not be worth the trip to the "big apple".

Having been to most of the big stores today I can confirm that the shops were so busy that here in Udon Thani the so called red shirt brigade must have been hidden behind a photo of Mr T.

What a waste of every ones time!

[elcent]

MCOT: Thaksin urges supporters: Don't give up, 'I'm a symbol of injustice'; Red Shirt fight no longer personal but public interest, true democracy

Quite possibly the truest words that he has ever spoken.

Lets only hope that he will not fly his jet in a suicide mission into the crowds of Bangkok. He's insanity shines through, very clear.

[alimike]

Would,nt it be a scream if they all ate contaminated balah and wanted to use the portables at the same time. Reminds me of a scene from Tom Sharpes books.

Mind you its no better than some of the crap that the falangs are spouting now.

If Thais want to commit Hari Kari then let them. falaangs should not interfere with home domestics.

We would not want them to shout and scream at our own countries problems.

[VegasVic]

I have now heard from 3 different people here in the states that have families in Thailand (outside of Bangkok) that now that the people in the countryside have seen that the protesters are not being fired upon, the numbers of redshirt demonstrators coming to Bangkok could begin to swell over the coming days therby creating a real problem for the commerce of the capital city? Has anyone else been hearing the same thing, and is it true that the military has let up on the checkpoints now that hey think the worst of the "invasion" is over?

[Jingthing]

The momentum is with the government. The people know the turnout was a total dud. The people smell a loser and I think that many people are now realizing their dear leader has serious delusional mental health issues.

Edited March 14, 2010 by Jingthing

[VegasVic]

The momentum is with the government. The people know the turnout was a total dud. The people smell a loser and I think that many people are now realizing their dear leader has serious delusional mental health issues.

"The momentum is with the government" thats a pretty creative spin on the situatiuon, don't you think jing? I mean the goverment is so afraid of their citizens in the countryside coming to Bangkok to make a peaceful protest that they resort to mobilizing a massive military presence, and the PM goes into hiding in a fortified military compound

[philw]

The momentum is with the government. The people know the turnout was a total dud. The people smell a loser and I think that many people are now realizing their dear leader has serious delusional mental health issues.

"The momentum is with the government" thats a pretty creative spin on the situatiuon, don't you think jing? I mean the goverment is so afraid of their citizens in the countryside coming to Bangkok to make a peaceful protest that they resort to mobilizing a massive military presence, and the PM goes into hiding in a fortified military compound

Very true................

Well said VegasVic

According to govt sources 50,000 police / troops are mobilised to control 46,763 red shirts.............................

Philw

Edited March 14, 2010 by philw

[molsey]

In a slightly different context..... just under a 100,000 people is the capacity of Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium....

hmmm!

[yoshiwara]

The momentum is with the government. The people know the turnout was a total dud. The people smell a loser and I think that many people are now realizing their dear leader has serious delusional mental health issues.

"The momentum is with the government" thats a pretty creative spin on the situatiuon, don't you think jing? I mean the goverment is so afraid of their citizens in the countryside coming to Bangkok to make a peaceful protest that they resort to mobilizing a massive military presence, and the PM goes into hiding in a fortified military compound

Coming to Bangkok to make a peaceful protest? Ho-ho. Past performance last Songkran did not indicate that. Nor did red speeches indicate that. I guess Thaksin's apologists would like a prize for not going ballistic, but we know why they haven't. This time the other side was ready.

[kurtgruen]

The momentum is with the government. The people know the turnout was a total dud. The people smell a loser and I think that many people are now realizing their dear leader has serious delusional mental health issues.

"The momentum is with the government" thats a pretty creative spin on the situatiuon, don't you think jing? I mean the goverment is so afraid of their citizens in the countryside coming to Bangkok to make a peaceful protest that they resort to mobilizing a massive military presence, and the PM goes into hiding in a fortified military compound

Coming to Bangkok to make a peaceful protest? Ho-ho. Past performance last Songkran did not indicate that. Nor did red speeches indicate that. I guess Thaksin's apologists would like a prize for not going ballistic, but we know why they haven't. This time the other side was ready.

The government did the right thing, to have a big show of force. That's the best way, to keep the peace. A couple of years ago, red, machette yielding trouble makers, just walked right through the small, unarmed police force. If you have enough cops and military, you can control the crowds and hopefully keep things fairly peaceful.

At least Abhisit stayed, while the other side always hid out in other countries, while the sh*t hit the fan. He is here and he is taking action. Protecting the government and it's people is something that should be a top priority at this time.

There may be a many peace loving people in the red shirt movement (as in most movements), but there also instigators, who want the masses to turn violent. Now combine the long travel, the heat, speeches of instigators, and the numbers in the crowd, and a peaceful protest can easily turn into mob mentality, riots, violence, death....

A strong police and military presence can safeguard against that.

Aside from the Government, Bangkok residence have a right to public safety and when that gets threatened (which so far, with a peaceful demonstration, it hasn't), the police and military need to step in and put a stop to it asap.

There is nothing wrong with a peaceful protest, as long as the protesters stay peaceful. Instigators, who want to turn this into a war, need to be removed by other red shirt leaders. If they fail to control their own ranks, the military and police have every right to go in and arrest trouble makers.

[elcent]

I think the sonic crowd control will be in action soon.

[elcent]

sonic crowd control

<<< WARNING! this clip contains very loud audio from the start

Professor CHRIS STONE (Harvard University): They're sometimes using a less-lethal weapon when they wouldn't have used any weapon at all. That can be a good thing if it's used properly. But the challenge that we found is that the weaponry has gotten ahead of the training, ahead of the policies, ahead of the planning.

Edited March 14, 2010 by elcent

[kurtgruen]

Good morning everybody,

I find media coverage of this red shirt demonstration to be rather lame.

Seems like the same old story..."if you don't step down, we'll do such and such"....24 hours later, ..."if you don't step down, we'll do such and such" and so on and so on and so on...

Looks like there is nothing to report, but everyone wants to report it

Hearsay, lies, jumps to conlusions...very little actual fact so for, except for the fact, that there are many Red shirted people in Bangkok and that their leader is somewhere else.

So it seems, like everything is pretty peaceful so far, which is good.

Hope all the demonstrators had a good sleep and that they have lots of Somtam and Khao Nueng left for breakfast

Hope that Abhisit and his Government had a good sleep too and is ready and well rested for another day of uncertainty.

I'm flat out of somtam and sticky rice, so I think I will have a nice cup a coffee

[rametindallas]

MCOT: Thaksin urges supporters: Don't give up, 'I'm a symbol of injustice'; Red Shirt fight no longer personal but public interest, true democracy

Quite possibly the truest words that he has ever spoken.

Now, no one can say Dr. Taksin lies ALL the time

[shawndoc]

So far I think both sides should be applauded for keeping things peaceful and civil. Let's all hope it stays that way.

[elcent]

So far I think both sides should be applauded for keeping things peaceful and civil. Let's all hope it stays that way.

yes, most of us hope so.

and lets also hope that the political landscape will change too, I mean equality for all, also for ex-pats to become ex-pets

[brahmburgers]

All Thai politians give out largesse to electors in a bid to gain popularity but whether those people vote for them nobody knows as you can't look over their shoulder when they vote.

Yes you can. You can arrange the polling booths in such as way as to see who votes for whom. It's been done in Thai elections recently, and for a well-defined reason: to see whether voters voted the way they were paid to vote. ....and/or to ensure those same voters knew their vote wasn't secret - in order to add to the pressure to vote the way the TRT/PPP/PT pu yai ban required they vote.

I mean the goverment is so afraid of their citizens in the countryside coming to Bangkok to make a peaceful protest that they resort to mobilizing a massive military presence, and the PM goes into hiding in a fortified military compound

It's called 'preparation.' A few days ago, Red leaders were talking about a million people. Fringe elements of the Reds have been known to get violent and destructive. The government is doing the right thing by being reasonably well prepared - and the authorities should be commended for exercising restraint.

[george]

Morning!

Monday March 15 Red-shirt rally live updates

Here:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Bangkok-Red-...da-t347530.html

[elcent]

The other English online media reports that more weapons have been seized in Samut Prakan (very near to Bangkok).

[termad]

All Thai politians give out largesse to electors in a bid to gain popularity but whether those people vote for them nobody knows as you can't look over their shoulder when they vote.

Yes you can. You can arrange the polling booths in such as way as to see who votes for whom. It's been done in Thai elections recently, and for a well-defined reason: to see whether voters voted the way they were paid to vote. ....and/or to ensure those same voters knew their vote wasn't secret - in order to add to the pressure to vote the way the TRT/PPP/PT pu yai ban required they vote.

You must think that Thai election officials and Thai Party Agents are very, very, very stupid people. Do you not think that they would not spot something a ten year old would point out.

[jdinasia]

You must think that Thai election officials and Thai Party Agents are very, very, very stupid people. Do you not think that they would not spot something a ten year old would point out.

Apparently you weren't in Thailand or paying attention to the news during and after the elections. People who are paid to vote can't really complain when the people that are paying have arranged to see that their money was well spent; now can they?

[Sunderland]

Is there a plan B now, apart from surrounding an empty Parliament or Government House and throwing blood?

[motoyen]

Does anyone know what the reds have planned for tomorrow and where they will be? Where is this army base that they have surrounded?

[Ulysses G.]

So far I think both sides should be applauded for keeping things peaceful and civil. Let's all hope it stays that way.

I concur. Peace in LOS!

http://www.fotosearch.com/ARP113/angel/

[kurtgruen]

Is there a plan B now, apart from surrounding an empty Parliament or Government House and throwing blood?

Selling more Red T-shirts, hand clappers, red toilet seats, red socks, key chains, Thaksin Posters, Abhisit vodoo dolls,red shorts, etc. and making a sh*tload of money, from it all.

After all, this is Thailand "Money #1"

And yes, the yellows did it, too and I'm sure every other colour always has and always will be

Let's see, do I feed my family today, or do I buy a red T-shirt???

[siampolee]

These views are the epitome of view that Thaksin delights in along with Penkair and Jataporn.

Ideas are more dangerous than guns, we don't let our people have guns, why would we let them have ideas?" ... Josef Stalin

"It's not who votes that counts, it's who counts the votes" ...

Josef Stalin

Edited March 16, 2010 by siampolee

[animatic]

All Thai politians give out largesse to electors in a bid to gain popularity but whether those people vote for them nobody knows as you can't look over their shoulder when they vote.

Yes you can. You can arrange the polling booths in such as way as to see who votes for whom. It's been done in Thai elections recently, and for a well-defined reason: to see whether voters voted the way they were paid to vote. ....and/or to ensure those same voters knew their vote wasn't secret - in order to add to the pressure to vote the way the TRT/PPP/PT pu yai ban required they vote.

You must think that Thai election officials and Thai Party Agents are very, very, very stupid people. Do you not think that they would not spot something a ten year old would point out.

This is why the WHOLE EC was jailed for screwing up the 2006 snap election.

They changed the polling booth positions so that Thaksins side could verify the votes cast.

[animatic]

It's not how you gain control through your voters,

but how you gain control OF your voters.

Modern political warfare is not about controlling the flow of commerce on roads in your area,

but controlling the flow of INFORMATION to the people who live on those roads.

Edited March 16, 2010 by animatic

[ableguy]

It's not going to work as planned.

Ok, maybe a bunch of people will show up, but the existing government will be fine after the dust settles. Have there been reports of payments for attending?

The Abhisit government is legit and decent. There's no real groundswell against him and his administration. It's another last-ditch and desperate means for an extremely selfish man to try and put his hands back on big money and absolute power.

I see the OP photo of Thaksin with the words "Thailand needs change" He's trying to copy Obama's success with that line. Yes, Thailand needs change, it needs to get good people in leadership roles, and get away from the ugly patterns of having people like Thaksin in the driver's seat. Thailand needs to change being so tolerable to treasonous people like Thaksin. It needs to change being so forgiving to Thaksin's puppets, like Sae Daeng, who toss explosives here and there.

The sooner Thailand changes from being harassed from Thaksin and his followers, the sooner Thailand can get moving forward to improving quality of life and cleaning up the environment and doing the many other things that have been put off because of the incessant hassling from Thaksin and his paid intimidators.

Well said