Thai Peace Talks End Without Resolution

[moresomekl]

<br />Looking from a sober distance, there is a case to be made that the reds' main cause of rural infrastructure development was already absorbed into Abhisit's portfolio as soon as he came into office, active in several plans he brought in & high on his things-to-do list including clearing up one of the most vested-interest upper echelons in the world.<br />And by inference, the reds have actually done a collosal amount of damage to themselves this year by re-emerging & playing gloves-off. The election was inevitable anyway, and had the reds stayed at home & just voted when the time came, they might have actually had a better chance. Their cause's politics is much further tarnished now in the eyes of the non-yellow/red Thais, than it was a month ago. In particular, they could have made an effort to distance themselves from Thaksin instead of wearing his face on their t-shirts en-masse. That would have counted as a huge electoral plus for them. Globally too, the UN & such love to take the side of the rural poor, but not when they are supporting a billionaire Bond-villain.<br /><br />Maybe it is good, despite the needless injuries to soliders and bystanders, "the truth will out" etc. & people know who they are really voting for, and not voting for.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

Yes agree but one must be careful . The governement now in place has a majority because of a court action , not because of a general election . I dont want to discuss again the merit or non-merit of this situation . I just want to caution those that think that because the current governement has a majority in parliament this situation will automatically persist in the case of a general election. The truth is that nobody knows for sure

[termad]

[quote name='LuckyFive8888' date='

you are right, the bangkok people will get tired of this eventually and will kick the reds out of bangkok. imagine the traffic jams everyday and all the bombing etc. the people in bangkok are trying to work and live normal. 10 million people in bangkok against some tenths of thousands reds.

I saw many locals on Phahon Yothin wearing red shirts and it was also interesting to see that the Forestry Police opened up their HQ and barracks and offered toilet facilities to the demonstrators. In fact there were a number of Forestry Police standing on the pavement waving red flags. So I think that the Red Shirts are gaining support in Bangkok not losing it.

[termad]

I don't believe that he cancelled his trip to Australia I think that he was turned down. He wanted to get out of the country before the demonstrations started as all the other Party Leaders and Pu Yais did but as at at the Friday before the start of the demonstration the trip had not been agreed to.

Official visits are planned months before they are made and the details would have been agreed to well before two days before they were due to take place.

If I may, I'd like to borrow jdinasia's reply, because it fits yet again.

Yet again you begin with something untrue.

and particularly because your untruths were pointed out the first time you trotted them out earlier this month.

Abhisit's planned Australian trip followed an invitation extended by Australian PM last year, eg. "months before."

But if your contacts at Australia's Foreign Ministry can provide contradicting information, we're all ears.

Can you point me to one single anouncement of Abhisit's planned trip to Australia? Can you give me one good reason why details of the trip weren't finalised two days before it was due to begin? Can you give me one good reason why Radio Thailand would make up a quote by Abhisit?

You may be all ears but apparently theirs not much in between them.

[jdinasia]

I saw many locals on Phahon Yothin wearing red shirts and it was also interesting to see that the Forestry Police opened up their HQ and barracks and offered toilet facilities to the demonstrators. In fact there were a number of Forestry Police standing on the pavement waving red flags. So I think that the Red Shirts are gaining support in Bangkok not losing it.

LOL ... is this like your other observations?

You saw "people" on Phahonyothin wearing red? Possibly ... locals? maybe even a few of those. Reds payed to be alongside the parade? probably more than any locals .. but there were only a few cheerleaders along that section.

Forestry police ? lol

[termad]

What have PTP said about all this? They are or have been remarkably quiet for a parliamnetary opposition

Jatuporn is doing all of his talking to the red mob.

Which I think is a much better idea than doing your talking to the General Anupong and paid thugs from the Ministry of the Interior.

[LuckyFive8888]

I saw many locals on Phahon Yothin wearing red shirts and it was also interesting to see that the Forestry Police opened up their HQ and barracks and offered toilet facilities to the demonstrators. In fact there were a number of Forestry Police standing on the pavement waving red flags. So I think that the Red Shirts are gaining support in Bangkok not losing it.

LOL ... is this like your other observations?

You saw "people" on Phahonyothin wearing red? Possibly ... locals? maybe even a few of those. Reds payed to be alongside the parade? probably more than any locals .. but there were only a few cheerleaders along that section.

Forestry police ? lol

i saw some MK waitresses wearing red too, i guess they are starting to support the reds.

[DocHolliday]

I saw many locals on Phahon Yothin wearing red shirts and it was also interesting to see that the Forestry Police opened up their HQ and barracks and offered toilet facilities to the demonstrators. In fact there were a number of Forestry Police standing on the pavement waving red flags. So I think that the Red Shirts are gaining support in Bangkok not losing it.

You saw....?

Indeed Bangkok must overwhelmingly support the reds... BTW who is the forest police?

Everybody has a dream. Let the reds have their red dreams... Bangkok will never support the reds.

[anotherpeter]

Can you point me to one single anouncement of Abhisit's planned trip to Australia? Can you give me one good reason why details of the trip weren't finalised two days before it was due to begin? Can you give me one good reason why Radio Thailand would make up a quote by Abhisit?

You may be all ears but apparently theirs not much in between them.

December: http://www.ssig.kpkk.gov.my/ssig/news/full...amp;news_cat=th

http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-wo...91210-klx9.html

March 5: http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/6893804...isit-australia/

What makes you think they weren't finalised? Leaders of countries sometimes change their plans because of other issues. (eg Obama cancelled his Aus visit because of the healthcare debate).

Why would Radio Thailand make up a quote? Good question. Did they even say it? Did you make up the quote?

[termad]

I saw many locals on Phahon Yothin wearing red shirts and it was also interesting to see that the Forestry Police opened up their HQ and barracks and offered toilet facilities to the demonstrators. In fact there were a number of Forestry Police standing on the pavement waving red flags. So I think that the Red Shirts are gaining support in Bangkok not losing it.

LOL ... is this like your other observations?

You saw "people" on Phahonyothin wearing red? Possibly ... locals? maybe even a few of those. Reds payed to be alongside the parade? probably more than any locals .. but there were only a few cheerleaders along that section.

Forestry police ? lol

Read my post dozy.

I live in Phahon Yothin - have done for years and I know many, many locals. I did not say that I saw people wearing red shirts I said that I saw locals wearing Red Shirts.

I don't know why you scoff at the Forestry Police (they now have a new name I should have said which is the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division). I would say that they are most probly the largest Police division in the country.

[lannarebirth]

I saw many locals on Phahon Yothin wearing red shirts and it was also interesting to see that the Forestry Police opened up their HQ and barracks and offered toilet facilities to the demonstrators. In fact there were a number of Forestry Police standing on the pavement waving red flags. So I think that the Red Shirts are gaining support in Bangkok not losing it.

LOL ... is this like your other observations?

You saw "people" on Phahonyothin wearing red? Possibly ... locals? maybe even a few of those. Reds payed to be alongside the parade? probably more than any locals .. but there were only a few cheerleaders along that section.

Forestry police ? lol

Read my post dozy.

I live in Phahon Yothin - have done for years and I know many, many locals. I did not say that I saw people wearing red shirts I said that I saw locals wearing Red Shirts.

I don't know why you scoff at the Forestry Police (they now have a new name I should have said which is the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division). I would say that they are most probly the largest Police division in the country.

You might have also mentioned that they have a long standing relationship with Thaksin since many years.

[Wolfie]

I am going to say this only once.

The next person who comes out with any kind of name calling will get a 7 day suspension. I don't care if you think its only lighthearted or a soft insult, So lets keep it civil, polite and on topic... or i will remove you from the discussion.

Thanks!

[termad]

I saw many locals on Phahon Yothin wearing red shirts and it was also interesting to see that the Forestry Police opened up their HQ and barracks and offered toilet facilities to the demonstrators. In fact there were a number of Forestry Police standing on the pavement waving red flags. So I think that the Red Shirts are gaining support in Bangkok not losing it.

LOL ... is this like your other observations?

You saw "people" on Phahonyothin wearing red? Possibly ... locals? maybe even a few of those. Reds payed to be alongside the parade? probably more than any locals .. but there were only a few cheerleaders along that section.

Forestry police ? lol

Read my post dozy.

I live in Phahon Yothin - have done for years and I know many, many locals. I did not say that I saw people wearing red shirts I said that I saw locals wearing Red Shirts.

I don't know why you scoff at the Forestry Police (they now have a new name I should have said which is the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division). I would say that they are most probly the largest Police division in the country.

You might have also mentioned that they have a long standing relationship with Thaksin since many years.

I've never heard of that could you supply some details?

[termad]

That whole H1N1 argument is a stretch of the imagination.

So the other English Language newspaper made up the story and so did all the Thai newspapers who ran it. In which case we will now see the Health Minister sueing all those papers who have called him a liar!

Grow up!

I don't think he's denying the fact that a "government volunteer" had H1N1.

But your suggestions that it was all a government conspiracy to spread panic was a bit of a stretch.

As you said, he came from an area that has some H1N1 infections.

Your assumption that everyone is health checked before they go to the protests means that you have more faith in this government than I gave you credit for.

As it was started by the Minister of Health yes it was a government attempt to start a panic and it would be very hard for the Goverment to deny it.

Selective reading again. I didn't say that everyone is health checked before they go to a protest I said "knowing goverment departments all "volunteers" would have been given a health check before being accepted"

Edited March 30, 2010 by termad

[webfact]

Thailand's red protesters refuse more talks

by Boonradom Chitradon

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Thailand's anti-government "Red Shirts" on Tuesday rejected the prime minister's offer of more talks and said negotiations had failed because he would not meet their 15-day deadline to call elections.

Leaders of the red-clad protest movement have held two rounds of televised talks with premier Abhisit Vejjajiva since Sunday, but they appeared to make little progress towards ending weeks of disruptive mass rallies in Bangkok.

"Negotiations have completely failed and have already ended. No more talks, everything is finished," a defiant Red Shirts leader Jatuporn Prompan told reporters, refusing Abhisit's offer to hold fresh discussions on Thursday.

During talks late Monday, Abhisit offered Jatuporn and two other Red Shirt representatives a compromise deal, saying he was willing to call elections by the end of the year, one year ahead of schedule.

"We need 15 days, while the government needs nine months," Jatuporn said after the two sides parted without agreement. "The government is insincere."

The supporters of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra say the government is elitist and undemocratic because it came to power through a parliamentary vote after a controversial court ruling removed Thaksin's allies from power.

The group, who stem mostly from Thailand's rural poor, first gathered more than two weeks ago in Bangkok's government quarter -- the latest in a string of rival street campaigns in the politically riven kingdom.

"It's a pity that protest leaders have swiftly rejected the government's offer and signalled the immediate end of talks. Despite this, the government is still open for negotiations," Abhisit told reporters Tuesday.

Abhisit also lashed out at the Reds' political icon, populist fugitive tycoon Thaksin who was ousted in a 2006 coup and now lives abroad to avoid a jail sentence for corruption at home.

The former policeman turned politician supports his movement with near-daily speeches by videolink but Abhisit urged the Reds not to be "pawns of Thaksin" before leaving for a two-day visit to Bahrain.

Thaksin himself has been in Sweden in recent days, after the United Arab Emirates asked him to leave his main base of Dubai, according to vice foreign minister Panich Vikitsreth.

"The UAE has sent a clear signal to Thailand that it will not allow Thaksin to engage in political activities there," Panich told reporters.

The cabinet on Tuesday extended for a week a harsh security law that allows the military to take control of a 50,000-strong force deployed across Bangkok and surrounding provinces to monitor the rallies.

While the demonstrations have been peaceful so far, a series of small explosions have hit politically significant sites and army buildings, injuring more than a dozen people in the last four days.

About 80,000 Red Shirts rallied on Saturday and forced troops to retreat from security posts in the heart of Bangkok. But police said only 16,000 protesters remained at their rally ground on Monday.

The Reds have staged a series of dramatic stunts in their bid to force Abhisit out, including throwing their own blood at his office gates.

Abhisit had ruled out talks while the protesters remained on the streets, but changed his mind on Sunday, a move analysts said might hint at a weakening of his support by the establishment.

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-03-30

Published with written approval from AFP.

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[jdinasia]

The reds can't finance keeping paid protesters in BKK during the weekdays and they (contrary to the claims of some folks) have no real Bangkok support.

This newest move by the reds to refuse further talks will certainly sabotage them with a large portion of the 'neither red nor yellow' population. Abhisit made a clear gesture of coming more than 50% of the way with an offer to dissolve parliament for new elections by the end of the year and thus sacrificing his last full year in office. The reds spit on that offer and on the offer of continueing discussions. That will only play well with 'die-hard' reds and won't play at all with the vast majority of Thais that see compromise as the only path to political stability in Thailand.

I, personally, expect more of a shake-up in red leadership from this with the possibility of Veera distancing himself from Jatuporn and Dr Weng. The red leaders like Jatuporn and Sae Daeng and Arisman will likely try to up the ante' but if that happens without sufficient funding from Thaksin I do not think that they will be able to maintain control of the red street soldiers. This, also, will play badly all over the country.

[anotherpeter]

The reds version of negotiation: We didn't get everything we wanted, so we aren't going to talk anymore.

"We need 15 days, while the government needs nine months," Jatuporn said after the two sides parted without agreement. "The government is insincere."

Have the reds said WHY they need 15 days?

[lannarebirth]

I saw many locals on Phahon Yothin wearing red shirts and it was also interesting to see that the Forestry Police opened up their HQ and barracks and offered toilet facilities to the demonstrators. In fact there were a number of Forestry Police standing on the pavement waving red flags. So I think that the Red Shirts are gaining support in Bangkok not losing it.

Read my post dozy.

I live in Phahon Yothin - have done for years and I know many, many locals. I did not say that I saw people wearing red shirts I said that I saw locals wearing Red Shirts.

I don't know why you scoff at the Forestry Police (they now have a new name I should have said which is the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division). I would say that they are most probly the largest Police division in the country.

You might have also mentioned that they have a long standing relationship with Thaksin since many years.

I've never heard of that could you supply some details?

I'm not sure if you live in the north of Thailand, but if you did, you'd see that local demonstrations in support of Thaksi/red shirts are often based out of forestry department premises.

[moresomekl]

<br />The reds version of negotiation: We didn't get everything we wanted, so we aren't going to talk anymore.<br /><br />

"We need 15 days, while the government needs nine months," Jatuporn said after the two sides parted without agreement. "The government is insincere."

<br />Have the reds said WHY they need 15 days?<br />

<br /><br /><br />

Because the boss wants to cut on expenses ... probably

[mazeltov]

That whole H1N1 argument is a stretch of the imagination.

So the other English Language newspaper made up the story and so did all the Thai newspapers who ran it. In which case we will now see the Health Minister sueing all those papers who have called him a liar!

Grow up!

I don't think he's denying the fact that a "government volunteer" had H1N1.

But your suggestions that it was all a government conspiracy to spread panic was a bit of a stretch.

As you said, he came from an area that has some H1N1 infections.

Your assumption that everyone is health checked before they go to the protests means that you have more faith in this government than I gave you credit for.

Ch 11: Reporter contracts 2009 influenza while posted at the red shirt rally; Health Ministry+BMA warns public of potential outbreak TAN_Network

Red leaders r still in denial mode but health officials confirmed that the man found with swine flu had participated in the rally. The Nation twit tulsathit

BANGKOK, March 22 (TNA) – One Red Shirt demonstrator and one news reporter contracted Influenza A(H1N1) while Thailand records one more flu-related death in past week, according to Public Health Ministry weekly report.

Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisit reported two new infections at the Red Shirt rally site, one of the demonstrators, a 40-year-old man from Phetchaburi province and a journalist, both of whom remain hospitalised ... the BMA health authorities were instructed to coordinate with the Red Shirt leaders to ask for medical checkup of about 800 demonstrators at the protest venue ...Meanwhile, one more death was reported in the southern province of Pattani, raising the country’s death toll to 219, Mr Jurin said. MCOT

BREAKINGNEWS

Man who catches flu is Interior Ministry volunteer, not protester: BMA

The man who is receiving treatment at the BMA General Hospital is a volunteer of the Interior Ministry, not a red-shirt protester, a Bangkok Metropolitan Administration deputy governor said Monday.

Malinee Suvejworakit, a deputy BMA governor, told a press conference that the man is not a protester as earlier announced by the Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit.

She said it has yet to be established as to whether the man got the A(H1N1) flu from his home province of Phetchaburi or from the rally site when he was deployed to help security officials to monitor the situation.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/Man-w...r-30125282.html

i would say there was a little bit scare mongering intended, caculated, to create fear, public dissonance.

anyway, still the question why the Interior Ministry deploys 'volunteers' to 'monitor' the situation? isn't it safer to have officials for such a job, like police men in uniform instead of 'volunteers'?

bonus question: assuming these 'volunteers' wearing coloured shirts, what colour could it be? kinda Stasi like, informer and agents infiltrate the reds. does that work out in accordance with the rule of law? ministry of truth?

Edited March 30, 2010 by mazeltov

[bacchanal]

"No more talks, everything is finished," a defiant Red Shirts leader Jatuporn Prompan told reporters, refusing Abhisit's offer to hold fresh discussions on Thursday.

After getting bashed around for two consecutive days, I can understand Jatuporn crying no more, no more.

[anotherpeter]

<snip>

i would say there was a little bit scare mongering intended, caculated, to create fear, public dissonance.

anyway, still the question why the Interior Ministry deploys 'volunteers' to 'monitor' the situation? isn't it safer to have officials for such a job, like police men in uniform instead of 'volunteers'?

bonus question: assuming these 'volunteers' wearing coloured shirts, what colour could it be? kinda Stasi like, informer and agents infiltrate the reds. does that work out in accordance with the rule of law? ministry of truth?

I think the scare mongering comes more from the "quality" media than the government.

Someone says something about some report and it gets reported in the media as "this government department said blah blah". There is no gathering of facts, there is just headlines.

[moresomekl]

<br />

That whole H1N1 argument is a stretch of the imagination.

<br /><br />So the other English Language newspaper made up the story and so did all the Thai newspapers who ran it. In which case we will now see the Health Minister sueing all those papers who have called him a liar!<br /><br />Grow up!<br />

<br />I don't think he's denying the fact that a "government volunteer" had H1N1.<br /><br />But your suggestions that it was all a government conspiracy to spread panic was a bit of a stretch.<br /><br />As you said, he came from an area that has some H1N1 infections. <br /><br />Your assumption that everyone is health checked before they go to the protests means that you have more faith in this government than I gave you credit for.<br />

<br /><br /><br /><i>Ch 11: Reporter contracts 2009 influenza while posted at the red shirt rally; Health Ministry+BMA warns public of potential outbreak</i> <a href="http://twitter.com/TAN_Network/status/10764370019" target="_blank">TAN_Network</a><br /><br /><br /><i>Red leaders r still in denial mode but health officials confirmed that the man found with swine flu had participated in the rally.</i> <a href="http://twitter.com/tulsathit/status/10865099961" target="_blank">The Nation twit tulsathit</a><br /><br />BANGKOK, March 22 (TNA) – One Red Shirt demonstrator and one news reporter contracted Influenza A(H1N1) while Thailand records one more flu-related death in past week, according to Public Health Ministry weekly report. <br /><i>Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisit reported two new infections at the Red Shirt rally site, one of the demonstrators, a 40-year-old man from Phetchaburi province and a journalist, both of whom remain hospitalised ... the BMA health authorities were instructed to coordinate with the Red Shirt leaders to ask for medical checkup of about 800 demonstrators at the protest venue ...Meanwhile, one more death was reported in the southern province of Pattani, raising the country's death toll to 219, Mr Jurin said. </i> <a href="http://www.mcot.net/content/35532#" target="_blank">MCOT</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><i>BREAKINGNEWS <br />Man who catches flu is Interior Ministry volunteer, not protester: BMA<br />The man who is receiving treatment at the BMA General Hospital is a volunteer of the Interior Ministry, not a red-shirt protester, a Bangkok Metropolitan Administration deputy governor said Monday.<br />Malinee Suvejworakit, a deputy BMA governor, told a press conference that the man is not a protester as earlier announced by the Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit.<br />She said it has yet to be established as to whether the man got the A(H1N1) flu from his home province of Phetchaburi or from the rally site when he was deployed to help security officials to monitor the situation.</i><br /><a href="http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/Man-who-catches-flu-is-Interior-Ministry-volunteer-30125282.html" target="_blank">http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/Man-w...r-30125282.html</a><br /><br /><br />i would say there was a little bit scare mongering intended, caculated, to create fear, public dissonance.<br />anyway, still the question why the Interior Ministry deploys 'volunteers' to 'monitor' the situation? isn't it safer to have officials for such a job, like police men in uniform instead of 'volunteers'?<br />bonus question: assuming these 'volunteers' wearing coloured shirts, what colour could it be? kinda Stasi like, informer and agents infiltrate the reds. does that work out in accordance with the rule of law? ministry of truth?<br />

<br /><br /><br />

Intelligence gathering is not against the law in any major democracy. And while the immense majority of reds rank and file are peaceful farmers i believe , some characters (arispan f.e) are quite dangerous and can cause violence . The purpose of those infiltrators would be to warn the governement and preempt this from happening for the good of everyone .

As for the governement trying to infect the crowd with H1N1 or whatever by sending infected spies its really far fetched .

[moresomekl]

<br />

"No more talks, everything is finished," a defiant Red Shirts leader Jatuporn Prompan told reporters, refusing Abhisit's offer to hold fresh discussions on Thursday.

<br /><br />After getting bashed around for two consecutive days, I can understand Jatuporn crying no more, no more.<br /><br /><br />

<br /><br /><br />

I think that Jatuporn must have realised that those public televised debates with the PM are causing more problems to his cause then benefits . If he has'nt ,the boss certainly has . Heard that there might even be a case when the red shirts rank and file cheered the PM, not sure if it has been confirmed

[hammered]

By the way guys all demos are targetted by undercover dudes call em spies if you want. No doubt the red demos have been and equally no doubt the yellow demos were. Half the time form what I hear the undercover dudes are even known to the inner circles of the demo organisers.

[moresomekl]

Anyway the current administration better show some support for the rurals by effective and concrete measures . If they want to win next election that is .

Spoke again with gf familly in Isaan , all are watching TV and supporting the reds .

[termad]

<snip>

i would say there was a little bit scare mongering intended, caculated, to create fear, public dissonance.

anyway, still the question why the Interior Ministry deploys 'volunteers' to 'monitor' the situation? isn't it safer to have officials for such a job, like police men in uniform instead of 'volunteers'?

bonus question: assuming these 'volunteers' wearing coloured shirts, what colour could it be? kinda Stasi like, informer and agents infiltrate the reds. does that work out in accordance with the rule of law? ministry of truth?

I think the scare mongering comes more from the "quality" media than the government.

Someone says something about some report and it gets reported in the media as "this government department said blah blah". There is no gathering of facts, there is just headlines.

It wasn't someone who made the announcement to the press it was the Minister of Health and to try to suggest that the Government didn't know all along that the man was a paid Ministry of Information thug is just plain crazy.

[moresomekl]

<br />

<snip><br />i would say there was a little bit scare mongering intended, caculated, to create fear, public dissonance.<br />anyway, still the question why the Interior Ministry deploys 'volunteers' to 'monitor' the situation? isn't it safer to have officials for such a job, like police men in uniform instead of 'volunteers'?<br />bonus question: assuming these 'volunteers' wearing coloured shirts, what colour could it be? kinda Stasi like, informer and agents infiltrate the reds. does that work out in accordance with the rule of law? ministry of truth?

<br /><br />I think the scare mongering comes more from the "quality" media than the government.<br /><br />Someone says something about some report and it gets reported in the media as "this government department said blah blah". There is no gathering of facts, there is just headlines.<br />

<br /><br />It wasn't <b>someone</b> who made the announcement to the press it was <b>the Minister of Health </b>and to try to suggest that the Government didn't know all along that the man was a paid Ministry of Information thug is just plain crazy.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

Why would the governement employ somebody whom they know is sick . So that he can not do his job properly ? Use common sense pls

[termad]

<br /><br /><br /><br /><i>Ch 11: Reporter contracts 2009 influenza while posted at the red shirt rally; Health Ministry+BMA warns public of potential outbreak</i> <a href="http://twitter.com/TAN_Network/status/10764370019" target="_blank">TAN_Network</a><br /><br /><br /><i>Red leaders r still in denial mode but health officials confirmed that the man found with swine flu had participated in the rally.</i> <a href="http://twitter.com/tulsathit/status/10865099961" target="_blank">The Nation twit tulsathit</a><br /><br />BANGKOK, March 22 (TNA) – One Red Shirt demonstrator and one news reporter contracted Influenza A(H1N1) while Thailand records one more flu-related death in past week, according to Public Health Ministry weekly report. <br /><i>Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisit reported two new infections at the Red Shirt rally site, one of the demonstrators, a 40-year-old man from Phetchaburi province and a journalist, both of whom remain hospitalised ... the BMA health authorities were instructed to coordinate with the Red Shirt leaders to ask for medical checkup of about 800 demonstrators at the protest venue ...Meanwhile, one more death was reported in the southern province of Pattani, raising the country's death toll to 219, Mr Jurin said. </i> <a href="http://www.mcot.net/content/35532#" target="_blank">MCOT</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><i>BREAKINGNEWS <br />Man who catches flu is Interior Ministry volunteer, not protester: BMA<br />The man who is receiving treatment at the BMA General Hospital is a volunteer of the Interior Ministry, not a red-shirt protester, a Bangkok Metropolitan Administration deputy governor said Monday.<br />Malinee Suvejworakit, a deputy BMA governor, told a press conference that the man is not a protester as earlier announced by the Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit.<br />She said it has yet to be established as to whether the man got the A(H1N1) flu from his home province of Phetchaburi or from the rally site when he was deployed to help security officials to monitor the situation.</i><br /><a href="http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/Man-who-catches-flu-is-Interior-Ministry-volunteer-30125282.html" target="_blank">http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/Man-w...r-30125282.html</a><br /><br /><br />i would say there was a little bit scare mongering intended, caculated, to create fear, public dissonance.<br />anyway, still the question why the Interior Ministry deploys 'volunteers' to 'monitor' the situation? isn't it safer to have officials for such a job, like police men in uniform instead of 'volunteers'?<br />bonus question: assuming these 'volunteers' wearing coloured shirts, what colour could it be? kinda Stasi like, informer and agents infiltrate the reds. does that work out in accordance with the rule of law? ministry of truth?<br /><br /><br /><br />

Intelligence gathering is not against the law in any major democracy. And while the immense majority of reds rank and file are peaceful farmers i believe , some characters (arispan f.e) are quite dangerous and can cause violence . The purpose of those infiltrators would be to warn the governement and preempt this from happening for the good of everyone .

As for the governement trying to infect the crowd with H1N1 or whatever by sending infected spies its really far fetched .

They tried to start a massive panic and it's pointless to deny that. As to whether they knew that the man was infected before being sent to the demonstration I don't know neither do you.

[moresomekl]

quote]<br /><br /><br /><br />Intelligence gathering is not against the law in any major democracy. And while the immense majority of reds rank and file are peaceful farmers i believe , some characters (arispan f.e) are quite dangerous and can cause violence . The purpose of those infiltrators would be to warn the governement and preempt this from happening for the good of everyone .<br />As for the governement trying to infect the crowd with H1N1 or whatever by sending infected spies its really far fetched .<br /><br />They tried to start a massive panic and it's pointless to deny that. As to whether they knew that the man was infected before being sent to the demonstration I don't know neither do you.<br /><br /><br /><br />

They try to start a massive panic you say but they dont know if the man was infected . Is that logical ? What are you smoking ?

[anotherpeter]

It wasn't someone who made the announcement to the press it was the Minister of Health and to try to suggest that the Government didn't know all along that the man was a paid Ministry of Information thug is just plain crazy.

Like I said, the media is looking at headlines, so they ask someone a question and it gets answered as per the facts known at the time. There is a lot of information in the media in Thailand that usually changes on an hourly basis. Mainly because the media is looking for the headline, and is not actually investigating anything.

Your suggestion that they knew "all along that the man was a paid Ministry of Information thug (??)" is just clutching at straws.

Your wording in calling him a "thug" just shows your bias.