Thai Protesters Target Bangkok's Tourist Centre

[lannarebirth]

This is probably just coincidence, but has anyone noticed that Abhisit's father has a board seat, with Prem, at CP Group? And CP Group and Bangkok Bank (where he's on the board as well) provided financing for the PAD protests and airport takeovers?

And maybe its just a further coincidence that in Thanong's blog today he says Red Shirts are getting funding from a major food supplier and a bank.

Should be perfectly acceptable then, right? Or are you suggesting that Abhisit & Co. are as corrupt as Thaksin & Co. allegedly are?

No, I'm not saying either. I don't know if the first "fact" you stated is true or not and I don't know if what Thanong wrote is true either. I just thought it was odd, your post, right after I got done reading his blog. If you're implying that Abhisit funds either, I think you're probably way off base.

Edited April 4, 2010 by lannarebirth

[SiriusBlack1]

If Apieceachit would just step down, and let the people choose who they want to lead them, as should have been done in the first place, none of this would have been happening. The only legitimate leader is the one who is genuinely chosen by the people.

The current PM is the lawful and legal leader of this country under the law and nobody has successfully (or otherwise) disputed this legally.

Ah yes.

Lawful, legal, under the law.

(Consults forum rules)... Thank you for explaining that to me, citizen.

Nothing to see here. Move along.

[on-on]

This is probably just coincidence, but has anyone noticed that Abhisit's father has a board seat, with Prem, at CP Group? And CP Group and Bangkok Bank (where he's on the board as well) provided financing for the PAD protests and airport takeovers?

And maybe its just a further coincidence that in Thanong's blog today he says Red Shirts are getting funding from a major food supplier and a bank.

Do you guys mean to tell me that this is a fight between a splintered ruling class of elites, each of whom hope to continue running the country the way they see fit in the future, and in which the common people - whether from Bangkok, The North, The South or Central Thailand - are merely pawns? Go on then. Pull the other one!

[kissdani]

NOTE: Deleted photos and smileys from original post to save space....<deleted> does being in Bangkok have to do with anything? Does not being in Washington DC mean I can't have / express an opinion on US politics or not being in Moscow mean I can't have an opinion about the bombings in Russia? You're making no sense.

i do have a couple of questions for you though - but they require thought, so I'm not really expecting an answer...Do you support the Red call for guerilla groups in Thailand? What about the ethics of Jatuporn, who apparently has immunity from prosecution, asking poor farmers to stay and be arrested for the benefit of a convicted thief on the run?

Perhaps direct your question to jdinasia who continually thinks he takes some great moral highground because he is IN Thailand and he reads Thai.

In fact he recently accused me of not living here with ZERO knowledge to try and win some cheap point in an argument.

Start paying attention to your groupthink cabal's own posts and smell the hypocrisy.

That dude is totally fake. Didn't you saw that the photo was shopped? The newspaper weren't Thai language newspapers but English. If you are in Thailand and watch Thai Television you will see there isn't much about the Red Shirt. That there are hundred of thousands of them is a total scare hoax. There haven't been much reports of violence, only that one yob who got impatient in his Porsche because he couldn't get fast enough to his favorite milkshake joint. No class war, just an idiot who gave gentlemen and playboys are bad name.

Some of the authenticity disclaimers here are just a parody, humor, for fun. But even if they put it also in their signature, the irony get totally wrong.

[yoshiwara]

This is probably just coincidence, but has anyone noticed that Abhisit's father has a board seat, with Prem, at CP Group? And CP Group and Bangkok Bank (where he's on the board as well) provided financing for the PAD protests and airport takeovers?

And maybe its just a further coincidence that in Thanong's blog today he says Red Shirts are getting funding from a major food supplier and a bank.

Should be perfectly acceptable then, right? Or are you suggesting that Abhisit & Co. are as corrupt as Thaksin & Co. allegedly are?

Thaksin allegedly corrupt?

Still claiming not a Thaksin apologist?

[kissdani]

Just to get this into some very basic context.

The Northeast is getting worse with basic living standards

Water levels are a disaster, staple rice growing people depend on to survive day to day is being hurt real bad, hel_l they even have plague of bugs killing what is left.

Many of these people have nothing.

The government is more concerned that Somchai can't drive into Silom in his BMW to trade

When basic food and water are on the line anything can happen.

I for one have big fears of how this will end.

Fact --- the current government has done more sustainable relief programs than Thaksin ever did. Not ONLY for the people of Isaan but for the poor nation wide. Thaksin's brother-in-law's BMW has nothing to do with the current government.

TRUE! Abhisit is the best PM Thailand ever had. Not that the Thaksin regime did nothing, but it is clear for everybody that Abhisit is much more better.

It's only the anti-govt mob with excessively agitation who get all worked up over actually nothing.

There was only one dude, a kid, a spoiled 18 years old who got unlucky, caught up in a traffic jam in the shopping district. He became nervous and impatient and rammed his Volkswagen into a few bikes and he got arrested. Todays deviant youth. Nothing to create a class war situation out of this. Keep cool

In contrast the average Somchai, just like the an ex-PM, who goes by the name Somchai too, is more discrete about his leisure activities, unlike the anti-govt mob.

Somchai & his BMW:

Somchai declines to comment on video clips of his lookalike

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat Thursday declined to comment on video clips of a person who looks like him and was seen taking a woman into a love motel.

When asked to comment on the video footage, Somchai smiled and walked into the assembly hall at Parliament at 1:45 pm.

The clip was played to the crowd at the Government House.

- The Nation / 2008-10-30

[jackr]

Besides, Hitler was a far better public speaker.

To be fair he was a fantastically articulate speaker, although as brilliant an orator he was he was every bit off his rocker.

[britmaveric]

TRUE! Abhisit is the best PM Thailand ever had.

:D

[kissdani]

Convicted ex-Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra will not be invited to Cambodia during the red shirts' protest to prevent him from using the country as a base to criticise Abhisit government, Cambodia's PM Hun Sen said Sunday.

As long as the red shirts hold mass rally in Thailand, Thaksin, an economic adviser to Hun Sen and the Khmer government, will not invited as guest of Cambodia.

Thai Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban said Hun Sen conveyed the message during their meeting on the sideline of mekong Summit in Hua Hin.

Hun Sen's message surprised many. It is because Hun Sen had angered Thai government by appointing Thaksin as economic adviser and the appointment led to the downgrading of the mutual ties.

Hun Sen himself had criticised Abhisit government, saying that his government is not willing to deal with Abhisit government. He even challenged Abhisit to dissolve the House and hold a snap election.

-- The Nation 04/04/2010

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

this must be a slap in the face for Thaksin

Interesting that it is Suthep doing the talking with Hun Sen and not the bungling Kasit. Good sign.

The niceties of protocol (Hun Sen is their PM) have some charm in that instance .

Maybe Kasit should be sent to talk to the protesters , he has some experience in

the matter i believe

It actually means that Kasit was right from the beginning , Hun Sen was misinformed and finally came to his senses.

Still the government should be more careful. We all know that Hun Sen isn't somebody who we would trust 100%. Our FM Kasit wasn't worried without a reason and the previous allegations not baseless.

Did Hun Sen really change his mind? Lost Thaksin an ally? That Thaksins visits in Cambodia have nothing to do with the situation in Thailand was Hun Sens official stance all the time. That cunning fox just called the Thai Government liars. Don't be fooled.

[kissdani]

TRUE! Abhisit is the best PM Thailand ever had.

:D :D

yes, sooner or later you will understand.

[DavidHouston]

Could any of you show us who do not live in Bangkok where these demonstrations are taking place? I have attached a Google map which may or may not be relevant. Some newspapers do not show maps.

Thank you for your help.

[ozzieman05]

My Thai wife's girlfriend has just arrived in Australia for a 2 week holiday, they are both Issan girls lucky enough to get a Uni Education

Sat down Sat Night and talked about the Thai situation and I think some of you TV members would get a shock to have been there.

When I first my my Thai wife 5 years ago Thaskin was god, and the saviour of Issan, she was never interested in Politics

Funny how things change

Now both the wife and all her friends are Pro democrats and the new PM

All her friends still in Thailand are totally anti the reds, and all are telling their families back in Issan the real story

Seems to me the Reds greatest threat is not the democrats, but education

One thing that comes through all their talking

Issan villages where happy before Thanskin, just living the life they knew

Now money is most important and debt is the biggest problem in the villages

Straight from the horses mouth 's you mat say

[bubba]

I agree , people tend to get so frustrated about a situation they can do nothing about ,

they turn into stupid remarks to compare their little minded whatever they are .

To compare him with Hitler is totally disrespect towards all of the millions killed in the WW2.

Says enough of their level of arguing at this forum . And even more that they allow it ( moderators ).

If you get offended by this simple comparison, I would avoid tuning in to any of the red shirt rhetoric since this clip was released.

Have you seen this tasteful and eloquent graphic that appeared in Truth Today , the official Red Shirt publication, on 16 February?

In English, the caption reads "The real character of Abhisit".

[geriatrickid]

Have you seen this tasteful and eloquent graphic that appeared in Truth Today , the official Red Shirt publication, on 16 February?

In English, the caption reads "The real character of Abhisit".

The swatika shown is the religious symbol and not the nazi swastika.

[whatsupdoc]

well observed! Not a surprise though, the reds are quite good in mixing up and distorting facts

[ChiangMaiThai]

On the topic of Airport seizuer.Right or wrong is not relevant any longer. it is past, so let past be the past.

Without taking sides, i must say, at least PAD had the brain and decency to apologize not only to Thai people but to foreigners also. While Red shirts to my knoweledge have not apologized to foreigners and tourists and right now they are directly causing problems for foreign tourists.

Personally, i would prefer to be stuck in the country due to airport problem but free to move around and do whatever. Over being stuck in the hotel room and unable to shop or travel around the city.

You really need a wake up call. The red shirts apologize every day. If you understand Thai, watch UDDThailand.com. They apologize with the same logic and excuses that the yellows offered up - that this is for the good of the country and a few days or weeks inconvenience will pay off in hundreds of years of freedom. Further, the airport closure did far more damage as far as the tourism industry is concerned. If you recall, one could not fly in or out of the country. That's insane.

How can you let the airport closure be in the past? It is so relevant. If you supported that means of protest, you can hardly criticize this means. Further, key figures involved in the airport siege are now in government, not in jail!

What kind of message does that send to the red shirts? Its illegal and wrong unless your goals match the goals of certain elites, in which case, we are pleased to offer you a promotion. It means if you don't like something in Thailand, lay siege to key infrastructure with 100,000 of your closest friends. You won't be stopped or arrested and if you are stubborn enough, there's a place in government waiting for you!

But don't take it from me. From today's New York Times:

None of the yellow shirts have been convicted for shutting down the airport, including Kasit Piromya, the current foreign minister who took part and reportedly said the protest was “a lot of fun.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/05/world/as...t-thai.html?hpw

[bubba]

On the topic of Airport seizuer.Right or wrong is not relevant any longer. it is past, so let past be the past.

Without taking sides, i must say, at least PAD had the brain and decency to apologize not only to Thai people but to foreigners also. While Red shirts to my knoweledge have not apologized to foreigners and tourists and right now they are directly causing problems for foreign tourists.

Personally, i would prefer to be stuck in the country due to airport problem but free to move around and do whatever. Over being stuck in the hotel room and unable to shop or travel around the city.

You really need a wake up call. The red shirts apologize every day. If you understand Thai, watch UDDThailand.com. They apologize with the same logic and excuses that the yellows offered up - that this is for the good of the country and a few days or weeks inconvenience will pay off in hundreds of years of freedom. Further, the airport closure did far more damage as far as the tourism industry is concerned. If you recall, one could not fly in or out of the country. That's insane.

How can you let the airport closure be in the past? It is so relevant. If you supported that means of protest, you can hardly criticize this means. Further, key figures involved in the airport siege are now in government, not in jail!

What kind of message does that send to the red shirts? Its illegal and wrong unless your goals match the goals of certain elites, in which case, we are pleased to offer you a promotion. It means if you don't like something in Thailand, lay siege to key infrastructure with 100,000 of your closest friends. You won't be stopped or arrested and if you are stubborn enough, there's a place in government waiting for you!

But don't take it from me. From today's New York Times:

None of the yellow shirts have been convicted for shutting down the airport, including Kasit Piromya, the current foreign minister who took part and reportedly said the protest was “a lot of fun.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/05/world/as...t-thai.html?hpw

So is that the extent of your justification of the current red shirt actions of trying to shut down inner Bangkok - namely, the actions taken by the yellow shirts in 2008 justify the current actions of the red shirts? Isn't that something like saying "Somchai" committed a burglary against some innocent people and got away with it because he had some inside police influence, so because of that it's OK if I do the same?

[ChiangMaiThai]

On the topic of Airport seizuer.Right or wrong is not relevant any longer. it is past, so let past be the past.

Without taking sides, i must say, at least PAD had the brain and decency to apologize not only to Thai people but to foreigners also. While Red shirts to my knoweledge have not apologized to foreigners and tourists and right now they are directly causing problems for foreign tourists.

Personally, i would prefer to be stuck in the country due to airport problem but free to move around and do whatever. Over being stuck in the hotel room and unable to shop or travel around the city.

You really need a wake up call. The red shirts apologize every day. If you understand Thai, watch UDDThailand.com. They apologize with the same logic and excuses that the yellows offered up - that this is for the good of the country and a few days or weeks inconvenience will pay off in hundreds of years of freedom. Further, the airport closure did far more damage as far as the tourism industry is concerned. If you recall, one could not fly in or out of the country. That's insane.

How can you let the airport closure be in the past? It is so relevant. If you supported that means of protest, you can hardly criticize this means. Further, key figures involved in the airport siege are now in government, not in jail!

What kind of message does that send to the red shirts? Its illegal and wrong unless your goals match the goals of certain elites, in which case, we are pleased to offer you a promotion. It means if you don't like something in Thailand, lay siege to key infrastructure with 100,000 of your closest friends. You won't be stopped or arrested and if you are stubborn enough, there's a place in government waiting for you!

But don't take it from me. From today's New York Times:

None of the yellow shirts have been convicted for shutting down the airport, including Kasit Piromya, the current foreign minister who took part and reportedly said the protest was “a lot of fun.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/05/world/as...t-thai.html?hpw

So is that the extent of your justification of the current red shirt actions of trying to shut down inner Bangkok - namely, the actions taken by the yellow shirts in 2008 justify the current actions of the red shirts? Isn't that something like saying "Somchai" committed a burglary against some innocent people and got away with it because he had some inside police influence, so because of that it's OK if I do the same?

No, not at all. The yellows should have been arrested and tear gassed within hours of marching on the airport. Same goes with the reds down at Central World. But, if you supported the yellow's methods, you simply can not criticize the reds methods. And since key government figures were involved in the airport siege, its rather amusing to hear them threaten these protesters.

Further, by doing nothing back in 2008 at the airport - and actually putting key people responsible for the siege in positions of power in the govt., a dangerous precedent was set. Basically, if you are connected to the elite, you can even lay siege to the airport and there will be no consequences. But if you are a poor farmer, you cannot even protest in the city without immediate threats of jail. True or not, it adds fuel to the fire.

Edited April 5, 2010 by ChiangMaiThai

[bubba]

On the topic of Airport seizuer.Right or wrong is not relevant any longer. it is past, so let past be the past.

Without taking sides, i must say, at least PAD had the brain and decency to apologize not only to Thai people but to foreigners also. While Red shirts to my knoweledge have not apologized to foreigners and tourists and right now they are directly causing problems for foreign tourists.

Personally, i would prefer to be stuck in the country due to airport problem but free to move around and do whatever. Over being stuck in the hotel room and unable to shop or travel around the city.

You really need a wake up call. The red shirts apologize every day. If you understand Thai, watch UDDThailand.com. They apologize with the same logic and excuses that the yellows offered up - that this is for the good of the country and a few days or weeks inconvenience will pay off in hundreds of years of freedom. Further, the airport closure did far more damage as far as the tourism industry is concerned. If you recall, one could not fly in or out of the country. That's insane.

How can you let the airport closure be in the past? It is so relevant. If you supported that means of protest, you can hardly criticize this means. Further, key figures involved in the airport siege are now in government, not in jail!

What kind of message does that send to the red shirts? Its illegal and wrong unless your goals match the goals of certain elites, in which case, we are pleased to offer you a promotion. It means if you don't like something in Thailand, lay siege to key infrastructure with 100,000 of your closest friends. You won't be stopped or arrested and if you are stubborn enough, there's a place in government waiting for you!

But don't take it from me. From today's New York Times:

None of the yellow shirts have been convicted for shutting down the airport, including Kasit Piromya, the current foreign minister who took part and reportedly said the protest was “a lot of fun.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/05/world/as...t-thai.html?hpw

So is that the extent of your justification of the current red shirt actions of trying to shut down inner Bangkok - namely, the actions taken by the yellow shirts in 2008 justify the current actions of the red shirts? Isn't that something like saying "Somchai" committed a burglary against some innocent people and got away with it because he had some inside police influence, so because of that it's OK if I do the same?

No, not at all. The yellows should have been arrested and tear gassed within hours of marching on the airport. Same goes with the reds down at Central World. But, if you supported the yellow's methods, you simply can not criticize the reds methods. And since key government figures were involved in the airport siege, its rather amusing to hear them threaten these protesters.

Further, by doing nothing back in 2008 at the airport - and actually putting key people responsible for the siege in positions of power in the govt., a dangerous precedent was set. Basically, if you are connected to the elite, you can even lay siege to the airport and there will be no consequences. But if you are a poor farmer, you cannot even protest in the city without immediate threats of jail. True or not, it adds fuel to the fire.

I think most of us here in no way justify or apologise for the yellow shirts occupation of Suvarnabhumi. But your post is clearly meant to apologise for the red shirts occupying and potentially paralyzing inner Bangkok.

A poor farmer "cannot even protest in the city without immediate threats of jail"? For the last two weeks, we have seen plenty of "poor farmers" protesting in the streets without being arrested. In fact, not a single person has been arrested so far. But when their exercise of free speech and expression begins to adversely affect the rights and the livelihood of others, as they are doing now, they have crossed the line and have become precisely the same as the yellow shirt occupiers that you criticise.

And the parallels continue: certain ex key government figures, including an ex prime minister, are involved in the current actions. And if UDD get their way, do you think that when these key government figures return to power, will they suffer any sort of charges or consequences for their current actions?

Edited April 5, 2010 by bubba

[geriatrickid]

way2muchcoffee, thank you for you reference to laws that were written. However, another aspect that must be considered is the legitimacy of the law and the reasons for the application. If the laws are capriciously applied or if they are applied by an illegitimate power, then the law may be deemed to have no validity. There are some that will argue that the current government has come about as a result of an illegal act, a military coup, and therefore has no authority. I won't go down that route, because we'll just disagree and there has to be some semblance of maintaining order or else anarchy will reign. Please note however, that the USA had Jim Crow laws and there was a sign in the park where my family would play that read No Dogs and No Chinese. The sign came down after the Communists took the city.

Let's look at what you wrote;

Section 62: There has been no armed assembly. Peace and order is in place, as evidenced by the lack of destruction to property and the peaceful comportment of the rally goers.

Section 63: The rally has not disrupted the administration of the country nor the consistency in the provision of

public services. The quality of public services continues to be crappy.

In respect to the need to protect the people it can be argued that the Red shirts are the people. they are the ones that keep the country running by the sweat of their brow. They are the ones that are paying the "tribute" to the Bangkok elite by way of usury, rice distribution monopolies and restricted land ownership.

More cherry-picking. Not quoting the full article and just saying things like "without arms" while the whole article states when that "right" may be abridged.

The "illegitimate" government horse won't run since this government didn't come about from a coup. It came about from a vote in Parliament.

Reading comprehension isn't one of your strengths is it? let me print it again, in bigger letters so maybe it will sink in;

There are some that will argue that the current government has come about as a result of an illegal act, a military coup, and therefore has no authority. I won't go down that route, because we'll just disagree and there has to be some semblance of maintaining order or else anarchy will reign.

Go and bother someone else please. Your views are notoriously biased and condescending, and intended to cause a confrontation.

[toybits]

Ozzieman05, on how many threads will you be posting this comment. ha ha...

Copy and pasting is so easy with modern technology.

My Thai wife's girlfriend has just arrived in Australia for a 2 week holiday, they are both Issan girls lucky enough to get a Uni Education

Sat down Sat Night and talked about the Thai situation and I think some of you TV members would get a shock to have been there.

When I first my my Thai wife 5 years ago Thaskin was god, and the saviour of Issan, she was never interested in Politics

Funny how things change

Now both the wife and all her friends are Pro democrats and the new PM

All her friends still in Thailand are totally anti the reds, and all are telling their families back in Issan the real story

Seems to me the Reds greatest threat is not the democrats, but education

One thing that comes through all their talking

Issan villages where happy before Thanskin, just living the life they knew

Now money is most important and debt is the biggest problem in the villages

Straight from the horses mouth 's you mat say

[animatic]

On the topic of Airport seizuer.Right or wrong is not relevant any longer. it is past, so let past be the past.

Without taking sides, i must say, at least PAD had the brain and decency to apologize not only to Thai people but to foreigners also. While Red shirts to my knoweledge have not apologized to foreigners and tourists and right now they are directly causing problems for foreign tourists.

Personally, i would prefer to be stuck in the country due to airport problem but free to move around and do whatever. Over being stuck in the hotel room and unable to shop or travel around the city.

You really need a wake up call. The red shirts apologize every day. If you understand Thai, watch UDDThailand.com. They apologize with the same logic and excuses that the yellows offered up - that this is for the good of the country and a few days or weeks inconvenience will pay off in hundreds of years of freedom. Further, the airport closure did far more damage as far as the tourism industry is concerned. If you recall, one could not fly in or out of the country. That's insane.

How can you let the airport closure be in the past? It is so relevant. If you supported that means of protest, you can hardly criticize this means. Further, key figures involved in the airport siege are now in government, not in jail!

What kind of message does that send to the red shirts? Its illegal and wrong unless your goals match the goals of certain elites, in which case, we are pleased to offer you a promotion. It means if you don't like something in Thailand, lay siege to key infrastructure with 100,000 of your closest friends. You won't be stopped or arrested and if you are stubborn enough, there's a place in government waiting for you!

But don't take it from me. From today's New York Times:

None of the yellow shirts have been convicted for shutting down the airport, including Kasit Piromya, the current foreign minister who took part and reportedly said the protest was “a lot of fun.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/05/world/as...t-thai.html?hpw

So is that the extent of your justification of the current red shirt actions of trying to shut down inner Bangkok - namely, the actions taken by the yellow shirts in 2008 justify the current actions of the red shirts? Isn't that something like saying "Somchai" committed a burglary against some innocent people and got away with it because he had some inside police influence, so because of that it's OK if I do the same?

I agree.

Sorry Redheads that dog doesn't hunt. Crocodile tears apologies don't fly either.

The Yellows should have been stopped before they got to either airport,

once they were there, in the post Oct 7th environment, that was that.

Somchai had lost far too much credibility and authority, from his own stupidity,

ok well Thaksin's and Sea Dang's stupidity too.

There was little chance of a violent removal at that point.

Somchai was too damaged goods.

The ineptitude of Somchai and the disgust at following his further orders

after the Oct 7th debakle, all played a part, but that was a different scenario

and a different government that today. Why should Abhisit throw out the rule of law?

Somchai was known for it's inability to govern...

We can see that in comparing legislative numbers between now and then.

Remove PTP from parliament by their own hand, and the current coalition

passes more work in ONE DAY than PPP did in 6+ months so is it any wonder,

no one including the army was backing Somchai at that point.

Just PPP rank and file, because there were content to get nothing done...

Right or wrong, this guy was not leading, nor functioning in the job,

and trying to solely blame PAD for it is a non-starter, they were making noise,

and illegally holding one compound, but that was no reason to stop functioning totally.

Why is this obvious,

because Abhisit has the Reds doing the same thing, but he is functioning daily,

no matter where he is. He and Korn have turned around the economy that

Somchai completely ignored as it went into the tank.

PPP never even mentioned noticing the world economic collapse as happening,

they totally focused on charter rewrite...

So by trying to say PAD got a free pass, which they haven't, to justify Red actions,

is just the 'they did it, we can do it' argument and not any reference to the laws.

Red should not be breaking the laws just because PAD prosecutions

have not gone through court fully yet.If the Reds do continue,

then they should ~FULLY expect to be in jail for their actions.

This is not 2008, and this is not the Somchai government and a double standard

would be to allow this stupidity to continue, since with ONE exception it is NOT normal procedure.

And that ONE exception is slowly moving through the courts and will be prosecuted as it should be.

Protest all they like,

but no more holding the country to economic and physical ransom... but ANYONE.

[webfact]

We had to review this topic.

It is now back for discussion

thanks for your patience

[LevelHead]

Well, I spent the day walking around Bangkok today, asking people here and there what they think about the Reds etc..

Most all said they support the Reds cause and hope the house is dissolved soon. They are happy to suffer a bit of inconvenience as its about time that something was done against the elite sponsered present dictatorship in place.

When asked why they do not go to show their support and wear a red shirt they say they are very scared about the Democrats/Bhumjaithai politicians getting the Army to kill people. They are scared that they do not have the right to protest as they may get arrested, beaten up or killed by government sponsered groups.

So they are silent supporters.

When asked if they support the pink shirts they all said no, whilst they want peace they see the pinks as just the trouble making yellows in a different shirt colour.

Some said they were willing to go in the evening when numbers are higher, as they think there is greater safety when more are there and the Army or Government sponsered thugs are less likely to come in killing and beating people.

So there we are, my on foot poll today shows clearly the silent majority are in support of the reds.

I guess now we will have lots of posts from people not in Bangkok telling us how they got a different view.......

[LuckyFive8888]

I agree , people tend to get so frustrated about a situation they can do nothing about ,

they turn into stupid remarks to compare their little minded whatever they are .

To compare him with Hitler is totally disrespect towards all of the millions killed in the WW2.

Says enough of their level of arguing at this forum . And even more that they allow it ( moderators ).

If you get offended by this simple comparison, I would avoid tuning in to any of the red shirt rhetoric since this clip was released.

Have you seen this tasteful and eloquent graphic that appeared in Truth Today , the official Red Shirt publication, on 16 February?

In English, the caption reads "The real character of Abhisit".

interesting! so this is what thaksin is feeding his followers. but truth is, the graphic looks more like thaksin to me.

[LevelHead]

I also was in Central Lad Prao today, my god that was busy, full of people shopping. Emporium is the same, chock a block with shoppers.

However, that does need feed the "alarmist" headlines the media loves.

People are shopping and spending money, just in different department stores across this massive city.

I have no idea why the media in Thailand plays up this "People of Bangkok unable to shop" nonsense....... they are all shopping and their is inconvenience to very few, if any at all. Nowhere is blocked off, access via BTS and foot is everywhere.

Wonder why the media is printing "alarmist" headlines ? Are their owners Yellow supportors..... ? ahaaaaaa...........

[evanson]

I'm getting a tad tired of posters comparing the 'reds' and the 'yellows'. Fact is those who joined the 'yellow' movement did so as an educated, (whether wealthy or not, and there were a lot of relatively poor folks there too), principled group who sensed the real danger of the return of Taksin and all he really stood for (some of you as, farang posters really do have very short memories regarding his attitude towards the foreign population here). Whereas the 'reds' comprise the leaders really, Jataporn and Veera, who don't give a toss about the 'poor' people of Isaan, and are taking the money. Much like the er, poor people of Isaan.

By the way, the 'yellows' didn't don yellow shirts to differentiate themselves from any other 'colour' 'movement', they were the first, they were wearing the Thai favourite colour, albeit related to the King. The 'reds' on the other hand, simply put on their red shirts on Taksin's instruction.

[RegularReader]

I also was in Central Lad Prao today, my god that was busy, full of people shopping. Emporium is the same, chock a block with shoppers.

However, that does need feed the "alarmist" headlines the media loves.

People are shopping and spending money, just in different department stores across this massive city.

I have no idea why the media in Thailand plays up this "People of Bangkok unable to shop" nonsense....... they are all shopping and their is inconvenience to very few, if any at all. Nowhere is blocked off, access via BTS and foot is everywhere.

Wonder why the media is printing "alarmist" headlines ? Are their owners Yellow supportors..... ? ahaaaaaa...........

I'm not sure you live in the same "Bangkok" as the other millions do.

I live an work in Bangkok and if I was to conduct a similar poll I too could find the answer I was looking for if I wanted to say, all the people I work and socialize with, don't support the reds. Your poll means nothing without qualification.

Further, I am under the impression that Central Lad Prao closed on 31st March 2010 and is now closed until the end of the year for renovations...

[LevelHead]

I'm getting a tad tired of posters comparing the 'reds' and the 'yellows'. Fact is those who joined the 'yellow' movement did so as an educated, (whether wealthy or not, and there were a lot of relatively poor folks there too), principled group who sensed the real danger of the return of Taksin and all he really stood for (some of you as, farang posters really do have very short memories regarding his attitude towards the foreign population here). Whereas the 'reds' comprise the leaders really, Jataporn and Veera, who don't give a toss about the 'poor' people of Isaan, and are taking the money. Much like the er, poor people of Isaan.

By the way, the 'yellows' didn't don yellow shirts to differentiate themselves from any other 'colour' 'movement', they were the first, they were wearing the Thai favourite colour, albeit related to the King. The 'reds' on the other hand, simply put on their red shirts on Taksin's instruction.

You joined today, its your 5th post and you are tired already ?

The Yellows were paid daily, they had free food, free massage, free entertainment, free drink etc... all paid for by ??????????????

They were protesting because Democracy had run its course and the political party CHOSEN BY THE PEOPLE were in power.

They did not like that and wanted the other party and so they caused problems.

The reds want the power back to the people so the people (and not the courts and elite) can decide who runs the country.

Sadly Democracy is now presently not in place in Thailand. Hopefully it will return soon when this "manipulated" coalition that was not elected by the people is dissolved.

[LevelHead]

I also was in Central Lad Prao today, my god that was busy, full of people shopping. Emporium is the same, chock a block with shoppers.

However, that does need feed the "alarmist" headlines the media loves.

People are shopping and spending money, just in different department stores across this massive city.

I have no idea why the media in Thailand plays up this "People of Bangkok unable to shop" nonsense....... they are all shopping and their is inconvenience to very few, if any at all. Nowhere is blocked off, access via BTS and foot is everywhere.

Wonder why the media is printing "alarmist" headlines ? Are their owners Yellow supportors..... ? ahaaaaaa...........

I'm not sure you live in the same "Bangkok" as the other millions do.

I live an work in Bangkok and if I was to conduct a similar poll I too could find the answer I was looking for if I wanted to say, all the people I work and socialize with, don't support the reds. Your poll means nothing without qualification.

Further, I am under the impression that Central Lad Prao closed on 31st March 2010 and is now closed until the end of the year for renovations...

No Central Plaza Lad Prao is open, I was there today, if you do not believe me then go there tonight, all open and full of shoppers.