State Of Emergency Decree Imposed In Bangkok

[Redsunset]

Okay boys and girls.... what is the latest news from Rajprasong? How many people are there? What are they doing? Has the government moved them yet?

[Loz]

did I hear correct that the army said they would not use force agaist thai people?

So how does that effect a state of emergency?

[animatic]

Dude -- get this straight.

I am not pro yellow. I am anti-red.

The Abhisit government is 100 percent legal and freely elected under the laws of Thailand. You want elections? Fine. WAIT for them, an angry mob is not the answer. Neither is declaring war on the government.

Excuse I must have been asleep.. What election was Abhisit and his cronnies elected in??? Did the world and myslef miss something?????

They were all voted in as MP's at the last general election. It's then up to the MP's to form a group or group of groups large enough to have something called a majority. If a majority group is formed they get to choose the Prime Minister and the rest of the Government. Didn't you learn this in primary school like everyone else ?

Alright . They voted themselves in power thai style with a little help from the courts .

Its perfectly legal .... in Thailand .

Coz havent heard of any other democratic country IN THE WORLD where such thing have happened .

Anyway whats the point to argue now .

PS Edit : If anyone here has heard of a similar story outside Thailand please provide a link .

Most obvious choice Israel.

Google it for yourself. About 30 years worth of assorted incidents.

Read the international papers a bit more rather than just the local rags.

[hansnl]

your are sure reading the wrong papers --- i cant recall ever reading that the present govt was duly elected -- they are there with the help of the army following a coup - u forget that part - and then the court banned all member of the present govt because they were taksins boys --- so if u are going to qoute facts - make sure the ones u quote are correct - and not pro yellow - sure sounds like it me and =- and the vast majority ahaaa

And if you wanna talk facts, no PM was ever elected by the people, MP's are elected by the people and then the MP's choose who will be the PM by parliamentary vote.

And just for your information, the coup ousted a caretaker PM who failed to call an election within the allotted time. They gave power back to the people and called a General Election about a year later, where PPP managed to cobble together a coalition government after failing to get a suitable majority to take power themselves. The Courts found the PPP leaders guilty of vote buying and banned them from politics, after which PTP was formed, but the Democrat party managed to get a big enough coalition together to take the government.

So maybe its you who are reading the wrong papers and need to check up on your facts

Wolfie, you are absolutely right.

But so sorry, this simple thing is very difficult to understand for people from the US who vote in a President, be it a stepped election.

In England there is a 2,5 party system, and there is always a majority due to the district voting.

In Holland, there are many parties in Parliament, and never in my life has there been a majority by one party, thank God.

We always have coalitions, which makes for a very moderate Government, all the time.

In Thailand it works more or less the same, coalitions.

And the pro-Thaksin coalition after the last election did loose out some partners to the other side: Abhisit c.s.

And if you look at his Government, he did not do too bad!

In relation to the economic world crisis

Edited April 7, 2010 by hansnl

[moresomekl]

I agree.. Arrest the bastards. Put them away for the rest of their lives.

Why so soft?

I'd personally have them hanged - drawn and quartered first.

nah i dont believe you

[grandpops]

It's about time! Totally justified for all the world to see.

A message to the good people of Thailand.

I can tell you with confidence the vast majority of foreigners support your honorable PM Abhisit in his valiant effort to fight anarchic red shirt's illegal attempt at revolution and the rule of a violent mob. Good luck to and best hopes for a PEACEFUL resolution.

100% agree. Abhisit is an honorable man.

I am looking at honarable in the thesaurus and there is no mention of ELECTED in this section.

The man who guts my fish in Tesco on saturday is an honest and fasticious man but even his most adoring customers would baulk at him running (ruining) the country..... even as a puppet.

[YouYouYou]

Oh dear and here we go again Let's hope somehow and some way there can be a withdrawal of both sides or otherwise it will get bloody and most folk do not want to see that happen. However, I have watched quite a bit of the RED TV and they are certainly an angry lot ...just can't see them backing down ... and now what options is the government left with?

I pray for a swift end though as this is affecting all, Thai's and farangs, and leaves us all feeling insecure in the land we call home. My wife also has to go to Pratunam once a week to buy stock ...I've banned her from going as I fear for her safety. Now she has little stock and thus our second income has dissappeared ....We are all affected by this in one way or another.

C'mon Thai people, live in harmony and peace as you always keep teling us farangs that's the way you are ... mmmm

[Sunderland]

Looks like a news blackout.

You will have to wait for someone who has actually been down there to report in or believe whatever the news sites post later.

[Redsunset]

What's the latest? There is too much old lady and old man gossip here.... don't people have things to do? What's actually happening with the red-shirts?

[Neurath]

Some people support the reds for what they WISH the reds were, not what they ACTUALLY are. Anyone who seriously thinks that the reds and THAKSIN are not tied at the hip is basically just deluding themselves. I don't doubt your good intentions though. Idealism is nice, warm, and fuzzy. Good for you to have those pleasant feelings. However, I am sure you aren't accepting the truth (today, yesterday, or tomorrow).

I'm quite sure this is true - it's the tendency to romanticize revolution and to see it for what you want it to be rather than what it concretely is. In this case what Jatuporn, Natawud, Mor Weng actually say and advocate. It's interesting that westerners like to romanticize other peoples' 'revolutions' and their poor but in their own countries the poor can go to hel_l and welfare is a dirty word.

When comments are made and strident advocacy undertaken for the poor of the North-East, I do wonder whether the people making the comments and advocacy would be equally strident for policies that advocate large scale redistribution of wealth in their own countries. I doubt they would. They'd scream about each and every increase in tax percentile, that would be my guess. Could be wrong, but I doubt it.

[Dodobird]

When you go to bangkok street, make sure you bring along yellow, red and pink T-shirt...just in case

[rainman]

Dude -- get this straight.

I am not pro yellow. I am anti-red.

The Abhisit government is 100 percent legal and freely elected under the laws of Thailand. You want elections? Fine. WAIT for them, an angry mob is not the answer. Neither is declaring war on the government.

Excuse I must have been asleep.. What election was Abhisit and his cronnies elected in??? Did the world and myslef miss something?????

They were all voted in as MP's at the last general election. It's then up to the MP's to form a group or group of groups large enough to have something called a majority. If a majority group is formed they get to choose the Prime Minister and the rest of the Government. Didn't you learn this in primary school like everyone else ?

Most obvious choice Israel.

Google it for yourself. About 30 years worth of assorted incidents.

Read the international papers a bit more rather than just the local rags.

Since you're using the example of Israel ...

Democrats & Yellow Shirts = Israelis

Puea Thai & Red Shirts = Palestinians

?

[traderjm]

I agree. I know one Thai person who supports the socialist wing of the red movement, but hates Thaksin. Everyone else that I know personally, feels that Abhisit has created better stability and growth than any other possible replacement.

He has stated clear goals and tried to move towards them. What clear mandate have the reds proclaimed other than magic money appearing for everyone when the messianic Thaksin returns? How much of their general statements about equalizing the gap between rich and poor would actually be seen? The red leaders are just another set of rich "old boys" who are pissed off that they were moved away from the trough by another set of "old boys". I really don't see how anything could get possibly better or even be as good as now if a red-influenced government came into power.

The thing that is really interesting to me is how many of the RED cause supporters come in TV and say how terrible it is when TV posters (of course anyone they don't agree with they instantly call Yellow supporters hehe) start saying dehumanizing things about the rank and file and I agree there is no cause to call them morons or monkeys or whatever the insult of the day is. BUT if you speak Thai and listen to idle chit chat while out and about the average Thai is far more brutal towards the RED rank and file. Not saying I agree with it, but it is a reality that most of them have no idea that they are being made to look like sheep as they are following leaders that ONLY want to destroy a sitting gov't. But they don't have any plans of their own or thoughts of their own.. they simply appear to be doing the bidding of a criminal.

Nor do they seem to get that if this gov't was toppled and new elections were held due to this RED pressure, and a RED backed gov't came to power that would just fuel the next round for the Pinks or the Yellows or the whomevers to say that gov't was not legit by coming to power in the way they did... and both sides will have their entrenched reasons why the other is wrong and we will be right back at it again in another year..

[OzMick]

I am an Aussie who subscribes to Thai Visa. I have been following this since it started, mostly on the "news only" topics. I am about to book flights from KL to Chiang Mai, Phuket and Krabi for May.

Do I book or not?? at the moment my only financial commitment to Thailand is $200, that will increase to $2000 if I book.Now a State of Emergency has been declared that voids travel insurance.

Ok folks - what do I do? Well me and probably thousands of other tourists.

My sister is coming in May too - her first overseas holiday - there are 18 in her group.

Do you have balls ?

It is likely that you will see very little (if any) impact on your plans.

If YOU have doubts, save your money.

I believe Marijka is a female name? a little decorum please.

[Sunderland]

What's the latest? There is too much old lady and old man gossip here.... don't people have things to do? What's actually happening with the red-shirts?

They're stripping down and have declared they will now be known as the 'white undies'.

[hammered]

Okay boys and girls.... what is the latest news from Rajprasong? How many people are there? What are they doing? Has the government moved them yet?

Still there. Numbers down. Nattawut making a speech about hearts the sky not understanding them and dont go home. No negotiations and fight

[rainman]

What's the latest? There is too much old lady and old man gossip here.... don't people have things to do? What's actually happening with the red-shirts?

Nothing. Abhisit is a sitting duck.

[rainman]

What's the latest? There is too much old lady and old man gossip here.... don't people have things to do? What's actually happening with the red-shirts?

They're stripping down and have declared they will now be known as the 'white undies'.

Edited April 7, 2010 by rainman

[Sunderland]

I have managed to connect to one of the redshirt tv channels. It's quite broken up. I think Nuttawut is speaking at the moment. Looks like about 2/3 of the crowd they have had in recent evenings. No sign of anyone being moved at present.

[moresomekl]

your are sure reading the wrong papers --- i cant recall ever reading that the present govt was duly elected -- they are there with the help of the army following a coup - u forget that part - and then the court banned all member of the present govt because they were taksins boys --- so if u are going to qoute facts - make sure the ones u quote are correct - and not pro yellow - sure sounds like it me and =- and the vast majority ahaaa

And if you wanna talk facts, no PM was ever elected by the people, MP's are elected by the people and then the MP's choose who will be the PM by parliamentary vote.

And just for your information, the coup ousted a caretaker PM who failed to call an election within the allotted time. They gave power back to the people and called a General Election about a year later, where PPP managed to cobble together a coalition government after failing to get a suitable majority to take power themselves. The Courts found the PPP leaders guilty of vote buying and banned them from politics, after which PTP was formed, but the Democrat party managed to get a big enough coalition together to take the government.

So maybe its you who are reading the wrong papers and need to check up on your facts

Wolfie, you are absolutely right.

But so sorry, this simple thing is very difficult to understand for people from the US who vote in a President, be it a stepped election.

In England there is a 2,5 party system, and there is always a majority due to the district voting.

In Holland, there are many parties in Parliament, and never in my life has there been a majority by one party, thank God.

We always have coalitions, which makes for a very moderate Government, all the time.

In Thailand it works more or less the same, coalitions.

And the pro-Thaksin coalition after the last election did loose out some partners to the other side: Abhisit c.s.

And if you look at his Government, he did not do too bad!

In relation to the economic world crisis

THe last election in Thailand by the thai people was in December 2007 .

The PPP (proThaksin) won the absolute majority at that election if i remember well .

What election are you refering too ?

Edited April 7, 2010 by moresomekl

[hammered]

Nattawut is asking people to protect red tv in nonthaburi

[saintofsilence]

What's the latest? There is too much old lady and old man gossip here.... don't people have things to do? What's actually happening with the red-shirts?

Nothing. Abhisit is a sitting duck.

More like a Proud Peacock

[grandpops]

Will they block twitter?

No way, how else will Abhisit update his Twitter blog?

Reminds me of the effectiveness during the last coup. Remember when the tanks ousted the elected government. It was not just Thaksin they got out (thats for the Thaksin Anguish crowd) it was the ELECTED GOVERNMENT)

Anyway, on BBC news they were saying that the bbc had been taken off the air in Thailand. As we were watching it live at the time in a bar in Hua Hin, we didn't believe it.

Even the Iranians couldn't control the media and they really were killing and maining on a grand scale

[bulmercke]

Rachaprsong crowd reportedly a lot smaller than previous nights. Reports are that no reds at Udon and 50 reds at Korat town halls.

Source?

[rainman]

Rachaprsong crowd reportedly a lot smaller than previous nights. Reports are that no reds at Udon and 50 reds at Korat town halls.

Source?

Disney Channel probably.

[FarangCravings]

I agree. I know one Thai person who supports the socialist wing of the red movement, but hates Thaksin. Everyone else that I know personally, feels that Abhisit has created better stability and growth than any other possible replacement.

He has stated clear goals and tried to move towards them. What clear mandate have the reds proclaimed other than magic money appearing for everyone when the messianic Thaksin returns? How much of their general statements about equalizing the gap between rich and poor would actually be seen? The red leaders are just another set of rich "old boys" who are pissed off that they were moved away from the trough by another set of "old boys". I really don't see how anything could get possibly better or even be as good as now if a red-influenced government came into power.

The thing that is really interesting to me is how many of the RED cause supporters come in TV and say how terrible it is when TV posters (of course anyone they don't agree with they instantly call Yellow supporters hehe) start saying dehumanizing things about the rank and file and I agree there is no cause to call them morons or monkeys or whatever the insult of the day is. BUT if you speak Thai and listen to idle chit chat while out and about the average Thai is far more brutal towards the RED rank and file. Not saying I agree with it, but it is a reality that most of them have no idea that they are being made to look like sheep as they are following leaders that ONLY want to destroy a sitting gov't. But they don't have any plans of their own or thoughts of their own.. they simply appear to be doing the bidding of a criminal.

Nor do they seem to get that if this gov't was toppled and new elections were held due to this RED pressure, and a RED backed gov't came to power that would just fuel the next round for the Pinks or the Yellows or the whomevers to say that gov't was not legit by coming to power in the way they did... and both sides will have their entrenched reasons why the other is wrong and we will be right back at it again in another year..

Your actually quite right REDS would win and then the Yellows would come out and taek over the airport again so

Maybe Thailand is not ready for democracy

Maybe its better just to let the Army run the country

[animatic]

your are sure reading the wrong papers --- i cant recall ever reading that the present govt was duly elected -- they are there with the help of the army following a coup - u forget that part - and then the court banned all member of the present govt because they were taksins boys --- so if u are going to qoute facts - make sure the ones u quote are correct - and not pro yellow - sure sounds like it me and =- and the vast majority ahaaa

And if you wanna talk facts, no PM was ever elected by the people, MP's are elected by the people and then the MP's choose who will be the PM by parliamentary vote.

And just for your information, the coup ousted a caretaker PM who failed to call an election within the allotted time. They gave power back to the people and called a General Election about a year later, where PPP managed to cobble together a coalition government after failing to get a suitable majority to take power themselves. The Courts found the PPP leaders guilty of vote buying and banned them from politics, after which PTP was formed, but the Democrat party managed to get a big enough coalition together to take the government.

So maybe its you who are reading the wrong papers and need to check up on your facts

Wolfie, I'm sorry but I can't ake it anymore. Anyone who knows parlimentary HS (thats's highschool civics) understands how PM's are chosen. You just don't seem to understand that a duly elected government was thrown out (analogous to a Parliment voting no confidence of a sitting PM) which require disolving Parliment and holding a national referendum. Somehow it appears that to you stating the obvious is helpful.

Please tell me of any other case than a coup where a duly elected sitting goverment is removed.

Ah still the obvious is not seen.

The Government was not removed.

Show me the order to remove the Somchai government.

Only Somchai was disqualified and possibly another in the cabinet who was a PPP party leader.

The PM had to resign, but they had full powers to vote in yet a 3rd PPP Mp's choice of PM.

Even if PPP the party didn't exist, more than 95% of the PPP MP's STILL remained in Parliament.

In the pre-built PTP.

The difference is that at that point FEW OTHER MPs had confidence in them or their leadership.

Just like Samak could have been PM the NEXT day after he was disqualified, BUT

there was no confidence in him either... within his OWN team.

Try not to confuse lose of a few players with lose of confidence in a still numerically viable team.

Edited April 7, 2010 by animatic

[hammered]

Rachaprsong crowd reportedly a lot smaller than previous nights. Reports are that no reds at Udon and 50 reds at Korat town halls.

Source?

Take a look at red tv for yourself it is down a fair bit.

[monkfish]

Okay boys and girls.... what is the latest news from Rajprasong? How many people are there? What are they doing? Has the government moved them yet?

Go look yourself

http://www.uddthailand.com/

[landofthefree]

Have you held an election or an opinion poll to determine what the vast majority of foreigners think? No, I didnt think so, in which case this is a guess on your part or perhaps too much reading and also believing the opinions of the Nation newspaper.All of the Fallang I know want to see this Government gone preferably ASAP as it obviously cannot run the country.

Interesting I don't know a single farang OR Thai that wants to see this gov't gone. I am only talking about people I know personally of course. By the same token all are wishing that something would be done to end the RED shirt madness, but are hoping for as peaceful an end to things as possible.. but looks less likely the more the RED leaders are ramping up their rhetoric.

The Farrang I know , like me, live and work in Bangkok and have done so for years. They think, like me, that the Abhisit Government is just a party made up of the rich establishment figures in Bangkok so therefore are the minority and are fated to lose in any election, so letting them lose sooner rather than later would be better for everyone concerned. Like me they want to get rid of the state of emergency ,get rid of the protesters on the streets and get Bangkok back to normal again. In response to your Thai friends comments it was interesting to see today the support that I witnessed that was being shown from people on the street to the redshirts as they were driving around Mo Chit and On Nut . Their support seems different to the lack of support for the red shirts that your Thai friends claim. Maybe the red shirts aren't as unpopular as many TV posters believe.