Why To Most Expats On This Forum Hate The Red Shirts?

[Livinginexile]

It's something that I just can't fugure out.

The reds are clearly fighting for a government that will better represent the poor rural people of Thailand (more than 80% of the population).

I would guess that 90% of the expats on this forum are married and or living with people that come from poor rural backgrounds and yet they vermently oppose the red shirt revolution that their adopted families support!

Why is that?

Surly they can see that the red movement is fighting for the benifit of the very people they have married.

I would also wager that their Thai partners are red shirt suporters.

[rixalex]

The reds are fighting for one rich corrupt criminal called Thaksin - that's it - anything else is just about what you wish they were fighting for, which isn't the reality.

[sawadeeken]

Man, have you got it ass-backward.............. The red shirts are Puppets of a convicted criminal "Taksin" who stole from his people and got caught and still proclaims to be innocent (puts the blame everywhere else)............. That is what the red shirts are all about.......... There wasn't any problem with the way the current Gov't was running things until the "reds" got the word from the "boss' to start the fuss............

[hunglikea]

Man, have you got it ass-backward.............. The red shirts are Puppets of a convicted criminal "Taksin" who stole from his people and got caught and still proclaims to be innocent (puts the blame everywhere else)............. That is what the red shirts are all about.......... There wasn't any problem with the way the current Gov't was running things until the "reds" got the word from the "boss' to start the fuss............

Agreed, and as for my Thai wife and her farming family in central/north Thailand,

they despise Thaksin and think the red shirts are wrong to support him. Wager lost.

Why not try a poll and find out?

[traderjm]

You are making a mistake that many make on this board it seems.

I doubt that many, if any TV posters HATE the RED shirts, they might hate some of the things they are doing now but they understand that for the most part they are being used by the convicted criminal.

The REDS don't really have a cause as such, meaning they have no solutions on how to fix the things they see (in many cases are being told) as being wrong. They are being lead to believe that somehow having elections right now under these conditions will make everything ok. Sadly it will not. If the next coalition is headed by the DEMs the REDS will be back with more claims of unfair unfair.. if the REDs win you can be sure the Yellows will be back in force in no time claiming the last election was not legit as it was called under pressure of protests etc..etc...

BTW it's a very broad generalization that MOST farang are married to women from that region... of course some are and likely the majority but I doubt you can make such sweeping comments without creating more tension

[tb86]

Thats kind of a poor assumption, plenty of expats arent married to or involved with issan girls. Some have western wives, or wives from other parts of thailand. It gets old to hear all farang are with a stereotypical country girl....just because the couples you know fit that category dosent make it true. I only know one guy married to an issan girl, but thats because i live in bangkok, one would imagine if you live in issan the chances are that you only know those married to issan girls, hel_l spend the day in nichida thani and ill bet you only 1 in 100 married couples have a issan wife

[simpathy]

Why would farangs give a hoot about red people? Their wives are hi-so thais. I m pretty sure hi-so think reds should just go back and tend to their rice crops.

[simpathy]

Does anyone see the correlation between the reds shirt and jingthing. They dont understan what they so upset about

[anotherpeter]

You would probably find that most anti-red farang on TV are not anti-poor. They are anti-Thaksin.

You would also find that even a lot of the pro-red farang on TV are also anti-Thaksin.

[tb86]

Why would farangs give a hoot about red people? Their wives are hi-so thais. I m pretty sure hi-so think reds should just go back and tend to their rice crops.

well shouldnt they.. seriously

[DP25]

The reds are clearly fighting for a government that will better represent the poor rural people of Thailand

[apetley]

Wifey and her family are 'typical' Thai middle class I would guess.

My wife used to work for the local Tessabaan, her sisters are a school teacher and ex company secretary for a large telecom in BKK.

They all hate the Reds as do mum and dad and can see the damage that the current protests are doing to Thailand and it's image abroad.

Personally I don't hate the Reds, just the leaders. The vast majority seem to be sadly misled by their own Red 'elite' just as the vast majority of the Yellows were by their 'elite'.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Surly they can see that the red movement is fighting for the benifit of the very people they have married.

I would also wager that their Thai partners are red shirt suporters.

Well, don't forget that quite a lot of TV Farangs have painted this whole alternate reality to their life in Thailand and are telling everyone that they married a white middle class Chinese-Thai girl. In that reality, they are a sweet Democrat voting upper-middle class family.

[tb86]

why is that so?, If your in a professional role here in bangkok its not quite proper to be married to a questionalble woman no different than in the west.

[Insight]

I would also wager that their Thai partners are red shirt suporters.

You know, in our 3+ years of marriage together I've never considered asking her?

[Huey]

The red shirts represent Taxsin and are made up primarily of the Issan. And my wife isn't from Issan or from Taxins camp

[ManilaLover]

because they smell from cheap alcohol, shout too much and the red color hurts my eyes.

(correct answer ?)

[tharae]

It's something that I just can't fugure out.

The reds are clearly fighting for a government that will better represent the poor rural people of Thailand (more than 80% of the population).

I would guess that 90% of the expats on this forum are married and or living with people that come from poor rural backgrounds and yet they vermently oppose the red shirt revolution that their adopted families support!

Why is that?

Surly they can see that the red movement is fighting for the benifit of the very people they have married.

I would also wager that their Thai partners are red shirt suporters.

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Just goes to show that you can't judge others by yourself. My guess is that the farangs on this site, like me, do not support the red shirts because their partners don't.

The association of political persuasion with Geographic location (now or in the past) is fallacious. This is much more about humanistic values. The systemic corruption of the past by Thaksin and his cohorts is a primary reason why Thai people detest TRT. And that is the reason why my wife is not a red supporter.

[coolerking]

I would also wager that their Thai partners are red shirt suporters.

You know, in our 3+ years of marriage together I've never considered asking her?

That is very funny.

My g/f (yes poor central Thailand family) seems to care less than I do, which is not a lot, as do most of her family.

[ozsamurai]

From the GCoast this must seem like a reality for you, being that you are in touch with what is going on here on the ground in rural Thailand. Thuggery, is not a democratic process, from either colored shirt. The conflict is purley over who gets to take advantage of Thailand next, not about remedy. Propoganda is as much to fault as is any or all of the parties involved. When the government of any country can be so weak as not to be able to enforce law, you should look behind the scenes, not at the pretty boys they put on TV for you to see. Im anti-red, anti-yellow, anti any other color, pro Thailand, its about time to make the step from Developing to DEVELOPED. This is what more farang would be opposed to than any red shirt.

Oz

[clinique]

Seems there are assumptions made by a lot of peole as well as perhaps a lack of relationships with Thais from ALL walks of life..

We have relationships with Thais from all walks of life - wealthy hiso- middle income- and local business/ relatively poor..

Yes Perhaps it is unfortunate for the redshirts that T is the supporter,,

BUT they do have a belief and an agenda - to stop central Bangkok government from making the rich richer and the poor poorer.. and they hold that belief regardless of T.. they are being ripped off by tax increaes and low incomes... while the elite poli's and business men reap the benefits..

[ianwuk]

I'm not married nor do I hate the red shirts.

I merely find them inconvenient. I understand what they are fighting for and I sympathise with them but I do not believe they will win.

These protests will never end peacefully with everyone satisfied.

[vicco]

Dear OP. You have to understand that many on here probably also believe that George Bush and Dick Cheney organized the attack on the world trade center....and that Elvis is alive and hiding out on a south Pacific island. They learn from each other--there are no outside sources. Thaksin evil, Thaksin convicted criminal, dumb rice farmers--paid to protest..how would those stupid Issan people know whats good for them? Military coups---good....kangaroo courts--justice for all...disband elected party based on "election fraud" ..put your own guys back in power with full support of army generals...fait a complis...true democracy!!

Then you have the constant flow of advise coming from people born into societies made safe and prosperous for them by the sacrifices of others who fought and often died trying to overturn governments that oppressed them...but that is ancient history and only applies in western countries.......Thai's should never attempt such a thing....that makes you a mob...violent thug...terrorist...or whatever else the Nations decides to label you.

[bkkjames]

This is what amazes me about the selective memories of Red TV members. If you go back to the Airport Shutdown, you will see that virtually every TV member was against that too.

I don't really care if they want to exercise their right to protest - I do care when they paralyze parts of the city and hurt the economy.

What they are doing now is bordeline to holding the city hostage - much like a pirated ship off somalia.

Then again, you guys were also saying it's within their rights and appropriate to take blood from kids and throw it all over the city.

[TAWP]

Wife's family might be seen as middle class (parents worked their way up, built a company and built houses together/for several family members).

GF's family is right smack in red shirt land.

Both are fairly dis-interested in politics, but when I watched UDD tv (online) last night the GF barked at me to turn it off and that they [the speakers etc] were all stupid.

As a libertarian I despise Thaksin and anyone that supports his climb back into power as I know he stands for many of the things I am against.

[rixalex]

Wife's family might be seen as middle class (parents worked their way up, built a company and built houses together/for several family members).

GF's family is right smack in red shirt land.

Both are fairly dis-interested in politics, but when I watched UDD tv (online) last night the GF barked at me to turn it off and that they [the speakers etc] were all stupid.

As a libertarian I despise Thaksin and anyone that supports his climb back into power as I know he stands for many of the things I am against.

A wife and a girlfriend?!

[rixalex]

This is what amazes me about the selective memories of Red TV members. If you go back to the Airport Shutdown, you will see that virtually every TV member was against that too.

Of course officially speaking, most of the red TV members haven't been about long enough to remember back then. Officially speaking.

[wileycoyote]

The Red Shirts are a politicised , generally paid vocal minority ,and they deserve criticism when they trespass the laws of Thailand .

[TAWP]

A wife and a girlfriend?!

Yes.

[Indo-Siam]

First off all, I do not believe that the Phak Phuea Thai Red Shirts represent a majority of the voting population of Thailand. In the last election, that party got 39% of the vote. I suspect that in the next election, they may get less. I will grant that they have a significant following.

I have no bad feelings toward the grass-roots, rural Red Shirts, nor the Bangkok working men and women who support the PPT party.

I have great disgust against the raging, bullying, threatening demagogues who dominated the stages at both Pan Pha bridge, and Rajprasong - spewing vitrol and hatred. If you doubt that this description is correct, then you weren't watching what I watched repeatedly on UDD-TV.

The Red Shirt leadership is intolerant of opposition. That makes them scary. They try to bully others into submission. That is law of the jungle - terrorism. I watched the terrorism unfold - not by explicit violence, but by the implication of violence. I saw it live - and yes, I do believe my own "lying eyes".

I have lived in Thailand for ten years. I was here for the coup in September 2006. The Army took over - but were respectful toward everyone. Despite having overwhelming force at their disposal, the military leaders did not threaten anyone, disparage anyone, or treat anyone disrespectfully. They did not threaten or brusquely invade anyone's personal residences or families, and they tried their best to minimize their affect on the wider population.

The Red Shirt leaders - representing a minority - have tried to bully the majority into compliance with their wishes. Why should anyone have to submit their will to .... Arisman? Arisman was a <deleted>' pop singer. I suspect that he knows little or nothing about foreign relations, economics, public health, education policy, defense policy, etc. Who made him dictator? Why should 70-year old Members of Parliament have to flee in terror to avoid capture by this thug and his underlings? It disgusts me.

The Yellow Shirts in 2008, and Red Shirt in 2009 and 2010 have shown themselves to be extremists, unable to adapt to a civilized democratic process. They want to prevail by force of direct physical intimidation and bullying. This is unworthy of Thai Society. These are barbarians.

I don't like them very much.

I feel bad for all the low-level folks who were duped into being human shields and propaganda displays for the insurrectionist thugs as they pursued their reign of intimidation.

Oh - and yeah - I am someone who is married to an Issan spouse. Her village was virtually 100% TRT supporters in 2000 and 2004. No one in that village ever became aware of any other party. The entire village - both Moo-Bahns - simply showed up at the polling house, took their 500 baht, and did what they were told - and never thought twice about it. They were supporting the Pooyai Bahn - who they liked (most of the village was related to one or the other Pooyai Bahn).

After moving to Bangkok five years ago - my wife cannot even vaguely associate the raving lunatics on the Red Shirt stages with any political party she ever voted for. Literally - when I told her that the vitrol-spewing demagogues on the TV were the descendants of the party that her entire village has always voted for - she thought I was crazy. In routine life, she is totally non-political - she assumes that all politicians and parties are just out to enrich the powerful. But - she can be awakened to be against a group that is obviously deranged and dangerous and I think that is how she now views the Red Shirts - at least the leaders. She certainly has no affinity for them. The only entities that she seems to view favorably are the Royal Family, and some senior monks. She possibly has positive thoughts about the Army - certainly not the police.