Saturday Red Shirts Mass Rally To Be Biggest Ever

[webfact]

Saturday demonstration to be biggest ever : Jatuporn

BANGKOK -- The red shirts leaders annouced on Wednesday, the mass rally this Saturday will be much bigger than the previous ones to put more pressure to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve the House before Songkran Festival.

Red shirt leaders Jatuporn Promphan and Weng Tojirakan said on the stage at the Phan Fa Bridge that they won't have the third round of peace talk with the government as the government is not sincere in settling the political conflicts with them.

He added that if the government insisted to stay for the next nine month before dissolving the House, it would be useless for the red shirts to talk to the government.

Jatuporn wanted Abhisit to think back during the tenure of the late ex Prime Minister Samak Sundhoravej that Abhisit had suggested that it was a waste of money for the government, about Bt20 million to hold a referendum.

Abhisit himself called for House dissolution at that time.

Jatuporn said the red shirts' only position was that the government dissolved the Parliament within 15 days. If the government agreed to this, the third round of talk will take place.

Jatuporn has warned the prime minister not to bring soldiers in as it would worsen the situation and Abhisit himself will become a dictator.

-- The Nation 2010-03-31

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[webfact]

Thai protesters ready for fresh mass rally

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Thai Red Shirt protesters geared up Wednesday for another weekend of mass rallies, ignoring Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's offer of a third round of talks to negotiate early elections.

The red-clad champions of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra have refused the prime minister's compromise to hold a vote in nine months, insisting that Abhisit dissolve the lower house within 15 days.

Red Shirt leaders said that Saturday's gathering would be their biggest since their rally began with more than 100,000 protesters on March 14, after the country's top court seized most of Thaksin's fortune.

Thaksin lives abroad, mostly in Dubai, to avoid a jail term for graft.

"All Red Shirts across the country are ready to return to fight on, as our goal has not yet been achieved," Reds' leader Jatuporn Prompan told reporters.

"Having a third round of negotiations on April 1 is not valid.... Further talks will only happen if the government changes its position.

If it insists on nine months for elections there will be no talks," he added.

The Reds have said they will not make a firm plan for the rally until Saturday.

They have staged a series of dramatic stunts to press their demand in recent weeks, including throwing their own blood at Abhisit's offices.

Abhisit is currently travelling in Bahrain, where he used a media conference on Tuesday to repeat his offer of further talks with Red Shirts. His offer to hold elections in nine months would be a year ahead of schedule.

The Red Shirts love the populist Thaksin, who was ousted in a coup in 2006, and despise Abhisit, whom they accuse of being elitist and in the pocket of the country's powerful military establishment.

Stemming mostly from the rural poor, the Reds say Abhisit's government is undemocratic because it came to power through a parliamentary vote after a court ruling removed Thaksin's allies from power.

The government has extended for one week a strict security law that places the military in charge of security in Bangkok.

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

Army spokesman Sunsern Kaewkumnerd said armed soldiers and police would guard key government institutions this weekend, but would refrain from entering non-political buildings such as temples and a zoo, after the Red Shirts chased them out during their moving rally last weekend.

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-03-31

Published with written approval from AFP.

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[Insight]

Replace the word "rally" with "sale" and I swear I was reading a DFS advert.

[Phil Conners]

They still haven't gone home?

[george]

Rent-a-crowd?

[hammered]

It will be big. Every supporter encouraged to attend, every favour owed to Thaksin pulled in and maximised use of pay for play number boosts. And almost guaranteed to have a stunt or provocation. Songkhran is coming

Probably not a good weekend to plan a little sightseeing in old Bangkok or a trip down to Roti Muktaba

[Who, me ?]

It will be big. Every supporter encouraged to attend, every favour owed to Thaksin pulled in and maximised use of pay for play number boosts. And almost guaranteed to have a stunt or provocation. Songkhran is coming

Probably not a good weekend to plan a little sightseeing in old Bangkok or a trip down to Roti Muktaba

I might be wrong, but I am now sure that those who owe a favor to Taksin will chose this time to pay it back....Not worth if it is a massive failure.

I don't believe that the number will be high anyway, and I don't think that this "event" will turn violent. There is no need for that ...

[TAWP]

Can we officially proclaim this a failure when they THIS weekend again fail to meet the 1 million person BS?

[Chaimai]

Thai protesters ready for fresh mass rally

The red-clad champions of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra have refused the prime minister's compromise to hold a vote in nine months, insisting that Abhisit dissolve the lower house within 15 days.

Linking this to 'international credibility' ('the reds' seeking international support) I find it incredibly naive that foreign support is requested by a group who believes that parliament can be dissolved in 15 days (especially when there are Buddha days involved and Pattaya no doubt starting Songkran around Easter !).

Simplistically, recent events looked like this:-

Reds" "We want direct talks with Abhisit"

Abhisit agrees to talks.

Reds: "We want talks to be live on television"

Abhisit agrees to live talks on TV.

Reds: "We want early elections"

Abhisit says OK - within 9 months, earlier if possible.

Reds: We won't talk anymore, we are going to have a large protest at the weekend.

Not exactly the scenario that engenders international support.

[hammered]

Can we officially proclaim this a failure when they THIS weekend again fail to meet the 1 million person BS?

It will be a failure if after the weekend numbers drop off and the status quo is still intact. Then it will be declared a failure by certain red leaders such as Khwanchai who came close to going home today. However, if it causes a change in the status quo it wil be a success. It isnt really about numbers right now.

Anyway as reported elsewhere Veera said they would attract 20 million so 1 million is really yesterday

[slapout]

Not sure about the rest of Thailand but this red shirt rally in Bangkok seems to have cleaned up Chiang Mai somewhat. Have not heard of a purse snatching and other petty crime for several weeks and also no traffic stops/checks by the bib for the same time frame.

Not sure what we could conclude, if anything, but I understand that besides the T supporters, the bib sent a substantial number to Bangkok to assist in crowd control??? Could the departure of either or both groups have a bearing on the apparent improvement?

[animatic]

Saturday demonstration to be biggest ever : Jatuporn

So surprising he would say that. < insert irony smily

[PeaceBlondie]

29 trillion Thais converge on Bangkok.....

[Sunderland]

Breaking News:

"Everyone in the World will be joining the red shirts' protest this coming weekend. A zillion billion million squillion people," declared Jatuporn before being dragged away laughing and screaming to Srithanya Hospital in the lead-up to a hastily arranged set of talks scheduled for April Fool's Day between the red shirts and the cast of The Muppet Show.

Thailand the hub of big numbers and exaggerated figures.

Forget learning English and science ... the education budget in Thailand needs to be spent on simple arithmetic and basic numbers.

[stingray]

They still haven't gone home?

look like they don't have any other jobs or businesses to do.

[LuckyLew]

Reds latest rally call

"me me me me me me me me me me"

Tired of seeing red shirt parades, I am always getting disappointed as there is not Santa Claus

[Netfan]

20 million huh? Surely the Guinness folks will be here for this!!! How'd that work out the other weekend anyway? Did they make it?

Edited March 31, 2010 by Netfan

[Garry]

29 trillion Thais converge on Bangkok.....

If you had said 29 trillion fleas, I would have believed you

[elkangorito]

I just wish that all of these protestors would realise that all they have to do is to wait until the next election, at which point in time they shall be given the option to 'democratically' remove the current government.

I think that 'democracy' & it's associated processes should be taught at all Thai schools, commencing immediately.

At the moment, the whole world is watching this debacle & I don't think that Thailand is increasing on the scale of 'smart & friendly' countries'.

[ballpoint]

Jatuporn said the red shirts' only position was that the government dissolved the Parliament within 15 days. If the government agreed to this, the third round of talk will take place...

..."Having a third round of negotiations on April 1 is not valid.... Further talks will only happen if the government changes its position.

If it insists on nine months for elections there will be no talks," he added.

So the government must agree to their demands and then they'll have talks? What exactly does he think the talks will be about then?

[ballpoint]

29 trillion Thais converge on Bangkok.....

If you had said 29 trillion fleas, I would have believed you

I know where they can get 29 trillion red ants.

[kraxlhuber]

<br />Can we officially proclaim this a failure when they THIS weekend again fail to meet the 1 million person BS?<br /><br />

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

Thailand has more than 60 million Poeple,voters,about 40 million.

The red have no mandate to dictate anyting ,as they have:

1st,no political base or doctrin,

2 nd,no,leaders who are honest,swinging from one moneytree(party) to another

3,rd, why not declare Thailand a federal republic which can be voted in parliament?

[ThailandLovr]

Before the last thread was closed, somebody said it wasn't possible for negotiations to be done in public (or similar words). Perhaps for the details yes, but so far this has substantially been negotiations on a timetable since the PM already agreed to dissolve. Timetable discussions can certainly be done publicly as they have been.

[kraxlhuber]

<br />

<br />Can we officially proclaim this a failure when they THIS weekend again fail to meet the 1 million person BS?<br /><br />

<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Thailand has more than 60 million Poeple,voters,about 40 million.<br />The red have no mandate to dictate anyting ,as they have:<br />1st,no political base or doctrin,<br />2 nd,no,leaders who are honest,swinging from one moneytree(party) to another<br />3,rd, why not declare Thailand a federal republic which can be voted in parliament?<br />

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

not really funny!

I have some mango trees in my garden,fruiting , ripening,and getting ready to be eaten..

now some different tribes of Big Red Ants are fighting for the mangoes,clinging tightly to the fruits, and killing each other,the ground is red already.

Then the fruits are become so heavy with the warriors,and fall to the ground,squashing zillions of ants.

Who is the winner?

[givenall]

Can they make it the biggest, biggest, biggest ever so there is no more need to make it any biggest, and may be they go home after that

[mca]

not really funny!

I have some mango trees in my garden,fruiting , ripening,and getting ready to be eaten..

now some different tribes of Big Red Ants are fighting for the mangoes,clinging tightly to the fruits, and killing each other,the ground is red already.

Then the fruits are become so heavy with the warriors,and fall to the ground,squashing zillions of ants.

Who is the winner?

Doctor, Mr Kraxlhuber's meds are wearing off....

[ThailandLovr]

29 trillion Thais converge on Bangkok.....

Ah trillions, now I can understand you. Being American, I don't understand small numbers like millions, because everything has been in trillions lately.

BTW, can't the gov't just print or borrow a few hundred billion or better yet a trillion baht, then substantially improve conditions for the rural poor? Future generations of children for decades to come shouldn't mind footing the bill.

Edited March 31, 2010 by ThailandLovr

[Netfan]

Ah trillions, now I can understand you. Being American, I don't understand small numbers like millions, because everything has been in trillions lately.

BTW, can't the gov't just print or borrow a few hundred billion or better yet a trillion baht, then substantially improve conditions for the rural poor? Future generations of children for decades to come shouldn't mind footing the bill.

Nice try, but first they will have to find a country that they can claim has WMD's and invade it, spending 714 billion dollars there over 9 years. That will give them a jump start. Can we keep American politics out of this- its messed up enough as is.

Edited March 31, 2010 by Netfan

[landofthefree]

Thai protesters ready for fresh mass rally

The red-clad champions of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra have refused the prime minister's compromise to hold a vote in nine months, insisting that Abhisit dissolve the lower house within 15 days.

Linking this to 'international credibility' ('the reds' seeking international support) I find it incredibly naive that foreign support is requested by a group who believes that parliament can be dissolved in 15 days (especially when there are Buddha days involved and Pattaya no doubt starting Songkran around Easter !).

Simplistically, recent events looked like this:-

Reds" "We want direct talks with Abhisit"

Abhisit agrees to talks.

Reds: "We want talks to be live on television"

Abhisit agrees to live talks on TV.

Reds: "We want early elections"

Abhisit says OK - within 9 months, earlier if possible.

Reds: We won't talk anymore, we are going to have a large protest at the weekend.

Not exactly the scenario that engenders international support.

The reason reported in the better quality Bangkok English Newspaper today for Abhisit speaking to the Red shirts was because of pressure from the "establishment" (one presumes the Army) the reason reported for him wanting to delay elections was mainly because it gives the military time to reshuffle and have a new leader appointed (from the same family)and it allows the military time to spend an uncapped budget" Do you still think Abhisit is in charge?

[Chaimai]

Thai protesters ready for fresh mass rally

The red-clad champions of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra have refused the prime minister's compromise to hold a vote in nine months, insisting that Abhisit dissolve the lower house within 15 days.

Linking this to 'international credibility' ('the reds' seeking international support) I find it incredibly naive that foreign support is requested by a group who believes that parliament can be dissolved in 15 days (especially when there are Buddha days involved and Pattaya no doubt starting Songkran around Easter !).

Simplistically, recent events looked like this:-

Reds" "We want direct talks with Abhisit"

Abhisit agrees to talks.

Reds: "We want talks to be live on television"

Abhisit agrees to live talks on TV.

Reds: "We want early elections"

Abhisit says OK - within 9 months, earlier if possible.

Reds: We won't talk anymore, we are going to have a large protest at the weekend.

Not exactly the scenario that engenders international support.

The reason reported in the better quality Bangkok English Newspaper today for Abhisit speaking to the Red shirts was because of pressure from the "establishment" (one presumes the Army) the reason reported for him wanting to delay elections was mainly because it gives the military time to reshuffle and have a new leader appointed (from the same family)and it allows the military time to spend an uncapped budget" Do you still think Abhisit is in charge?

I never suggested Abhisit was in charge. FACT - everyone knows he is not. However, he is as credible a puppet as you will find anywhere at the moment.