Red Shirts Vow To Bring A Million To Bangkok

[webfact]

RED SHIRTS' RALLIES

Red shirts vow to bring a million to Bangkok

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Leaders of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship yesterday repeated their vow to amass a million red-shirted demonstrators to oust the government, which they accused of trying to portray the pro-Thaksin Shinawatra movement in a bad light to the public.

Jatuporn Promphan told a press conference at the People Channel TV station in Lat Phrao that the red shirts had been instructed to walk or push their way through all road checkpoints on their way to Bangkok.

The soldiers and police manning the checkpoints would be violating the law if they only stopped red-shirted protesters coming to the capital to demonstrate their constitutional rights against the government, regardless of whether violence was employed, he said.

The red shirts did not attempt to blow up gas tankers and use violence against Bangkok residents during the April mayhem last year, he said.

"The government is using this as propaganda to turn Bangkok residents against the red-shirt rally," he said.

The British ambassador, who had urged the DAAD to avoid violence, would meet him today at the embassy, he said.

"I will tell the ambassador that the red-shirted people will not seize the airports, Government House or any private or government property," he added.

Nattawut Saikua, another DAAD leader, said the mere fact that the Abhisit government exercised emergency powers the most often showed that it was the least accepted and most insecure.

He said he hopes Bangkok residents would "welcome red-shirted people".

"We will make our rally as comfortable as possible for millions of Bangkok residents," he said.

"By noon of March 14, one million red-shirted people will be in Bangkok," he added.

In Pathum Thani, organisers arranged the "red-shirted navy" comprising 300 boats and ships they had chartered to carry local people and those based in Nonthaburi.

Some 13,000 local residents and 5,000 based in Ayutthaya had signed on to join the rally, they said.

The red-shirt movement in Sing Buri staged a protest of 250 farmers outside city hall, saying these farmers gathered on their own will out of discontent with the government's failure to ensure a good price and manage water resources efficiently for them. They later dispersed.

-- The Nation 2010-03-11

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[neverdie]

Ohh dear, they honestly believe this do they, or are they just trying to pump up the propaganda?

A million. I guess they will all be riding flying pigs, as well.

[Carib]

They vow this, they vow that, just like their master, he vows everything too ...when it suits him, never to be heard of the vow afterwards..

[britmaveric]

Let's hope a million + show up. It will be a lovely sight!!!

[animatic]

Yes:

Forget the road blocks just push through.

If they only stop people saying they plan to stop the city functioning

and bring down the government, then they are breaking the law...

uh what law? ignoring the fact other people are NOT planning to

bring the city to a halt, and pose no threat to the people of Bangkok

Jatuporn thinks he has a meeting with the British Ambassador????

This guy will say most anything comes into his head.

If he imagines leading 500 redshirts to holler bloody murder outside

the British Embassy will get him face time with Quentin he is a daft bugger.

Ah, but he IS a daft bugger.

We are coming to bring your city to a halt, we expect you to welcome us.

No red shirts tried to blow up your city last time they rioted,

that is propaganda, by a scared government.

They use the security law on a proven bunch of rioters,

so they must be " least accepted"... by redshirts.

Amazing stuff all in all, and if they believe it even more amazing.

[craigt3365]

Just read in the "other" paper that funds are drying up. Thaksin has not given the red's leaders enough for this event. So, will have to cancel after 3 days or so if the government is not brought down. They are having to front some of the money from their own pockets for this event...and have not been reimbursed from the previous events. I guess they will do it as funds for their upcoming elections are tied to supporting this "rally".

Also read that they figure it will be closer to 100k as several red leaders have backed out (Seh Daeng, etc), and the support is not as strong as they had anticipated. Duh...

This just gets funnier by the day. What a soap opera. Hey! There's an idea! Let's do a comedy movie on all this? We could get Woody Allen to direct and Mel Brooks to play Thaksin! Maybe Roseanne Barr for his wife? That would be perfect as Roseanne has been pretty much barred from TV due to her previous antics...and Mel's crazy eyes would be perfect for Mr. T.

[neverdie]

Let's hope a million + show up. It will be a lovely sight!!!

Dreams are free brit, so why not dream away......personally i would go for the million dollar dream myself

[anotherpeter]

"The red shirts did not attempt to blow up gas tankers and use violence against Bangkok residents during the April mayhem last year, he said."

"The government is using this as propaganda to turn Bangkok residents against the red-shirt rally," he said.

So the violence last year was obviously other shirts dressed as red shirts. And obviously organised by the government to discredited the red shirts.

What I think the red shirts need to do is attack any other red shirts that are causing violence.

Beware of red shirts (or blue shirts or yellow shirts or green shirts) because they may actually be blue shirts or yellow shirts or green shirts (or red shirts) dress as red shirts (or blue shirts or yellow shirts or green shirts).

Edited March 11, 2010 by anotherpeter

[cdnvic]

Posts advocating, or wishing for violence deleted. Any further such posts will disappear without warning, and probably their authors too.

[phuketrichard]

How many times have we read that this will happen or that will happen;

No one knows till we see what does happen.

Thou i serously doubt 1,000,000 will trun up.

Edited March 11, 2010 by phuketrichard

[mythBuster]

They will never make a million. It will e sheer impossible. Yesterday I worked in the North today in Izan. When I see the sheer number of checkpoints and the hassling that is going on on each and every checkpoint, it is likely that many people are discouraged or prevented from even leaving the provinces. I have seen numerous cars that were turned back, whatever the reason might be.

Although I am certainly not a blind Thaksin follower, we have to admit that the freedom of expression and demonstration has been deteriorated in the last 3 years. THe fact that an internal security state is called says a lot about the people in power. They will not listen to the masses. Even when 50 million Thais would show up they simply would claim that they were badly informed and are used by the opposition.

It is simply sad to see that this particular government has done nothing else than not ruling the country, not trying to improve the living standards of people but only diverted the people's attention by going after Thaksin. There was no reconciliation attempt, the government is plagued by corruption, from officials diverting money from healthcare to the military with their hot air balloon and the scanners.

Thailand does deserve a government who tried to tear down walls between people and who recognized that the poor need better possibilities and more help in order to develop.

[anotherpeter]

They will never make a million. It will e sheer impossible. Yesterday I worked in the North today in Izan. When I see the sheer number of checkpoints and the hassling that is going on on each and every checkpoint, it is likely that many people are discouraged or prevented from even leaving the provinces. I have seen numerous cars that were turned back, whatever the reason might be.

Although I am certainly not a blind Thaksin follower, we have to admit that the freedom of expression and demonstration has been deteriorated in the last 3 years. THe fact that an internal security state is called says a lot about the people in power. They will not listen to the masses. Even when 50 million Thais would show up they simply would claim that they were badly informed and are used by the opposition.

It is simply sad to see that this particular government has done nothing else than not ruling the country, not trying to improve the living standards of people but only diverted the people's attention by going after Thaksin. There was no reconciliation attempt, the government is plagued by corruption, from officials diverting money from healthcare to the military with their hot air balloon and the scanners.

Thailand does deserve a government who tried to tear down walls between people and who recognized that the poor need better possibilities and more help in order to develop.

"last 3 years" ... 2 of those were under Samak and Somchai. Abhisit has only been PM since Dec 2008.

How do you reconcile with the reds when they want to bring back someone who has been convicted of corruption?

You can't really blame the current government for things that happened in the army before he was PM.

All of Thailand is plagued by corruption.

Thailand DOES deserve a government to look after all the people of Thailand. I don't think a Thaksin government would do that.

If the reds disowned Thaksin, then there would be a lot more support for the reds and the grievences of the farming poor. The fact that they are tied in so closely with Thaksin doesn't do anything for their support.

EDIT: Just being a Thaksin follower makes you blind, IMO.

Edited March 11, 2010 by anotherpeter

[Britannia]

Agree. fairness for all in life not just the selected. Good for one good for all

[TAWP]

Beware of red shirts (or blue shirts or yellow shirts or green shirts) because they may actually be blue shirts or yellow shirts or green shirts (or red shirts) dress as red shirts (or blue shirts or yellow shirts or green shirts).

Can we be sure that those blue shirts wearing red shirts aren't infact red shirts wearing blue shirts wearing red shirts, to cast blaim upon the blue shirts? Or could they be...yellow shirts wearing red shirts wearing blue shirts wearing red shirts to cover who is really behind the problems?!

We need Sherlock Holmes for this...

But he would most likely deduct that the most obvious answer is in most cases the true one; that the red shirts making trouble are indeed red shirts. dam_n you literary figures! *shakes fist* Now how can the blame game go on if he will see straight through them?

[grahamhc]

The red shirts did not attempt to blow up gas tankers and use violence against Bangkok residents during the April mayhem last year, he said.

What TV channel was I watching last year? or was it another American disaster movie where the hero saves the world with seconds to go.

Let's hope a million + show up. It will be a lovely sight!!!

Even if a million turn up, and with a population of around 50 million, that is only 2% of the people. And if only 100,000 turn up, only 0.2%.

As always in EVERY country, the masses dont get involved or alter things, only the militants.

I have bought some extra MaMa noodles and water, and will stay in and watch TV - Maybe CNN / BBC World will cover the "event" and further help the Tourist Trade (of other countries).

And to think this is all over the greed of one man who did not want to pay his tax bill. How much has that cost Thailand and its ordinary honest and hard working people? I pay my UK tax every year and can visit the UK whenever I want without the fear of arrest.

[mazeltov]

"last 3 years" ... 2 of those were under Samak and Somchai. Abhisit has only been PM since Dec 2008.

EDIT: Just being a Thaksin follower makes you blind, IMO.

2 years of Somchai and Samak?

trying to defend Abhisist as decent and legit and by any means don't open your eyes much more as those of blind Thakson followers.

[craigt3365]

They will never make a million. It will e sheer impossible. Yesterday I worked in the North today in Izan. When I see the sheer number of checkpoints and the hassling that is going on on each and every checkpoint, it is likely that many people are discouraged or prevented from even leaving the provinces. I have seen numerous cars that were turned back, whatever the reason might be.

Although I am certainly not a blind Thaksin follower, we have to admit that the freedom of expression and demonstration has been deteriorated in the last 3 years. THe fact that an internal security state is called says a lot about the people in power. They will not listen to the masses. Even when 50 million Thais would show up they simply would claim that they were badly informed and are used by the opposition.

It is simply sad to see that this particular government has done nothing else than not ruling the country, not trying to improve the living standards of people but only diverted the people's attention by going after Thaksin. There was no reconciliation attempt, the government is plagued by corruption, from officials diverting money from healthcare to the military with their hot air balloon and the scanners.

Thailand does deserve a government who tried to tear down walls between people and who recognized that the poor need better possibilities and more help in order to develop.

I think the freedom of expression has gotten better. Otherwise, many of these reds would be in jail already. They are letting them spew just like they let the yellows spew earlier. So each side has been treated equally.

It is great they are implementing the ISA. I think they have learned their lessons from the past protests and just don't want to take another chance? Crack down right now and not let it get out of control. Good on them.

And how can the current government get much done with the reds blocking every move they make and constantly trying to get them thrown out? It's like the republicans and the democrats in the US! If the reds really wanted to help the country, they would take a different approach...and one that did not involve Thaksin. But we all know that couldn't happen...where would the money come from for these protests to help Mr. T get back his cash.

Talk about corruption? Why are we in this mess in the first place? Could it have anything to do with Mr. T's corruption? I think so. I am fairly new to Thailand, but believe I have seen a move forward in combating corruption. I know, call me crazy, but maybe things are starting to turn for the better? Research any first world country's history and you will see in the not so distant past they had bad corruption also. Like the mafia in the US...heck, pretty much every country has corruption now anyway!

Let's all hope this is a non event and Thailand can start healing the wounds. Get Thaksin out of the picture so things don't get stirred up.

[NanaFoods]

I am no fan of Thaksin, and no fan of the Yellows either. So, T.I.T.

But since I do business here, I am not happy that my deliveries are disturbed - whether by the Reds or Yellows.

My hope is for stability and a "clean" government, if possible.

-- no other comment, other than, I wish something like this (massive protest) would happen in the US (my home country), and remove the Corporate/Banker government currently in power now. But, alas, American Idol and Dancing with the Stars must not be interrupted.

[Ulysses G.]

And to think this is all over the greed of one man who did not want to pay his tax bill. How much has that cost Thailand and its ordinary honest and hard working people?

Actually it is about those ordinary people trying to break out of the cycle of poverty that they have been trapped in for centuries. Thaksin is only an excuse.

[anotherpeter]

"last 3 years" ... 2 of those were under Samak and Somchai. Abhisit has only been PM since Dec 2008.

EDIT: Just being a Thaksin follower makes you blind, IMO.

2 years of Somchai and Samak?

trying to defend Abhisist as decent and legit and by any means don't open your eyes much more as those of blind Thakson followers.

Sorry ... 1 year of army, 1 year of Somchai and Samak, and then 1 year of Abhisit. But not 3 years of Abhisit as previously posted.

Abhisit is legit. I haven't had any evidence presented to me to say otherwise.

And, IMO, in the short time he has been PM he seems to be doing OK.

Edited March 11, 2010 by anotherpeter

[Ulysses G.]

I am no fan of Thaksin, and no fan of the Yellows either.

But since I do business here, I am not happy that my deliveries are disturbed - whether by the Reds or Yellows.

My hope is for stability and a "clean" government, if possible.

I feel the same, but I also hope that all of this strife benefits the Thai people in the end. They deserve it.

[anotherpeter]

And to think this is all over the greed of one man who did not want to pay his tax bill. How much has that cost Thailand and its ordinary honest and hard working people?

Actually it is about those ordinary people trying to break out of the cycle of poverty that they have been trapped in for centuries. Thaksin is only an excuse.

Thaksin may only be an excuse, but that's why most people are against the reds. If it was just about the ordinary people, they would get a lot more support.

Most farangs see through the lies made by Thai politicians ... because we've seen it for so long in our own countries. Most of us can see through the lies of the red leaders. That's why we are anti-red and anti-Thaksin.

EDIT: Yes ... there are the Abhisit lies too ... but far more are coming from the reds at the moment IMO.

Edited March 11, 2010 by anotherpeter

[CGW]

Doubt there will be a million, but the police are taking it seriously, drove from Kohn Kaen to Pattaya yesterday and had to go through 9 police checks! these were not the usual shake downs.......

Edited March 11, 2010 by CGW

[sibeymai]

Million, schmillion. Dream on.

[DickFarang]

The British ambassador should not interfere.

Thailand is not a British colony.

I think all farangs should exercise restraint.

[DickFarang]

The red shirts did not attempt to blow up gas tankers and use violence against Bangkok residents during the April mayhem last year, he said.

What TV channel was I watching last year? or was it another American disaster movie where the hero saves the world with seconds to go.

Let's hope a million + show up. It will be a lovely sight!!!

Even if a million turn up, and with a population of around 50 million, that is only 2% of the people. And if only 100,000 turn up, only 0.2%.

As always in EVERY country, the masses dont get involved or alter things, only the militants.

I have bought some extra MaMa noodles and water, and will stay in and watch TV - Maybe CNN / BBC World will cover the "event" and further help the Tourist Trade (of other countries).

And to think this is all over the greed of one man who did not want to pay his tax bill. How much has that cost Thailand and its ordinary honest and hard working people? I pay my UK tax every year and can visit the UK whenever I want without the fear of arrest.

As to the Tourist Trade you mention, I do not know what CNN and BBC are showing, but Belgian television in general does not show anything at all about Thailand, with only two exceptions over the last years:

September 2006: tanks in the streets of Bangkok

November 2008: stranded families with babies at the airport

(My daughter sent an SMS to enquire if we were fine.)

TAT (or TiT) at its best.

[animatic]

Hong Kong is showing quite a bit this on TV and mostly in terms of coming horror show

and what your government is trying to prevent at home.

While there is some like of Thaksin for his Sino/Thai roots, his general treatment on

HONG KONG TV IN RELATION TO THE RED SHIRT CRISI is none too positive nor flattering.

In general they now are quite glad they booted his fuzzy butt off their turf.