Thai Army Says Planning Operation To Clear Protesters

[meelousee]

The only thing the army is going to do is smoke bomb themselves again.

Abhish_it has lost total control. Not that the Red Shirts are doing to do anything, but it is clear the PM is out of touch and out of command. He reminds me of "Baghdad Bob" when the USA had them surrounded, he was giving press releases saying the US troops were not there and everything was fine. lol

You seem to misunderstand, the seated PM is not calling the shots, and never has.

[eggomaniac]

TO MY FRIENDS

I hear this cry coming from the bowels of the Thai country people, this long cry asking for more justice.

Who can remain insensible to the pain of the millions of men, women and children you represent? Your lives are rooted to this beautiful Country of which you are the gardeners. Generation after generation, you have been shaping the landscape, without you it will be an impenetrable jungle. Long days spent farming this rice, in the heavy rain, in the heavy sun, and when coming the dark, so exhausted that you have only one aim: to rest for working again tomorrow. You have gotten no time to take care of yourself: your wooden houses are nearly the same that those of your grand fathers' ones and generations before. Modernity is slightly visible through a TV set, a tap water in your garden....few details: it is your life and you can be proud than during Centuries you have feed the whole Country, particularly your fellow town people.

During this time your fellow town people have worked hard also, building factories, making business and they have succeeded: day after day they are accumulating wealth. Today they have nice modern houses, nice cars and all the modern comfort going with. Today they are more and more busy for accelerating the accumulation of wealth. Today they have big projects in which they are going to invest billions and billions. They are so occupied that they have forgotten you have feed them during Centuries. They cannot disturb their activities and give you a small part of their wealth because they need it for their grandiose projects. The Cities are buzzing like beehives: the noise is so important that they cannot hear you: they are deaf to your long pain cry.

Red Shirt people you are entering in Humanity History, I wish the coming days to be Peaceful, I know you love Peace ...

Beautifully written, 100% true and calling for peace,[well omitted the slavery of the grandparents] and the scurrilous jackals jump on him. They did the same thing to the few of who warning, months ago, that the red movement was underestimated in size and resolve. [Of course now they say they knew it all along, 555]

Jerry, thank you for the beautiful words and accurate description. While billionaires, on BOTH sides, jockey for positions at the pig trough, the common folk are the fodder.

In the spirit of loving kindness yellow supporters, there is a really good chance you don't know Who you are taking sides against. IF some of the Western media reports are correct, you might end up trying to cover your tracks when it's too late; get your head down. You might NOT be in the cafe that has the most chicken in the soup. Google hard before it's too late for you.

Their are good intentioned people on both sides, with good ideals, however all of your leaders are gangsters, really BIG gangsters!

70% of Thais are neither red or yellow supporters. Real smart, not I can type in forums smart, farangs should squarely NOT be siding with either side. Why 90% of farangs favour one side OR the other is really beyond the pale.

You can't WIN anything by guessing right, but you can sure LOSE if you end up on the wrong side of the fence! GET IN NEUTRAL! <<< I really mean this in the helpful way.

Veritas et Pax

[Thai at Heart]

Good response. The only thing wrong with the post you reply to is that Abhisit did not pull Anupongs strings. Anupong sat out the debacle yesterday morning, watched it go tits up the took charge. Hence Mark shaking like a blancmange on TV last night. He had had the rug pulled out from under him and his stooge in charge of comedic street policing is toast. He was starting to look like Goebels.

You are right about the divided loyalties and if the Army were crazy enough to slaughter a load of reds, you would find people from Bangkok going to Pattani, Beiruit, Gaza and Zimbabwe next year for their holidays to get some peace and quiet away from the troubles here.

IMHO

The only reason the army is able to control anything in this country is because the populous is likely to be meek and mild in front of aggression from the army. Add this to the fact that over the years various atrocities have been committed by the army but have been covered up, but this is becoming harder and harder to achieve. The army can no longer bring it's "full weight" to bear on these situations.

The people are starting to see the splits in the army more and more obviously because the army is having to put itself up for scrutiny concerning its efficiency and it's conduct more and more often. People don't believe that the army is nearly as efficient, as scary or as above the law as it used to be. People don't appear so intimidated by the sight of an M16 and a Vietnam War troop carrier any more.

As for Suthep being removed. Thank god. He was in charge for the Pattaya mess, he has been in charge for this one. The guy is a politician (enough said really) from the South. He is inept. I love the fact that it appears Anupong didn't want the job despite him obviously being the best man for it. Unfortunately, this is part of his job description, if he doesn't like it, he can always resign tomorrow.

[anotherpeter]

The military said it was planning another operation to disperse the thousands of protesters from Bangkok's commercial district but the timing had not yet been decided.

"There will be an effort to retake the area. We can't allow protests there because it damages the country," army spokesman Sunsern Kaewkumnerd told reporters.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said that he was replacing his deputy as head of security operations in the capital, giving army chief Anupong Paojinda broader powers to tackle "terrorism".

Exactly what did the Thai army do to stop damage being done to the country when Suvarnabhumi was seized by the Yellows? Hopping around with Yellow flowers in gun barrels..

I would say more billions were lost over that compared to a few closed Bangkok Elite Paragon shopunits. At least now tourists can still come to Thailand but just visit other shopping malls.

Here's a scenario for you:

The Thai Army didn't do anything at Suvharnibhumi against the yellows because the Somchai government wouldn't take responsibility for anything that happened.

In the case of the reds, Abhisit has made an agreement with the army that the government will give the orders and take responsibility.

And ... since the reds supporters like to say all of this is OK "because the yellows did it first", the yellows went home after 9 days ruining the economy at Suvharnibhumi. Will that mean the reds will go home after 9 days ruining the economy in Ratchaprasong?

[Jerrytheyoung]

If there is a major crackdown as several TVF members wish, we have to look at the consequences:

- first, History shows that it just postpones the issue until the circumstances are favourable to another unrest, or the cracks we perceive in Army and Police may drive the situation to Civil war (risk not neglectible in the current circumstances)

- secondly, as underlined, in our modern times, the World is watching closely. If the crackdown finishes in another bloodbath, Thailand will be considered as Burma for the Human Rights- at least by an important number of Countries, this will induce at least a relative isolation,

- in any case, Investors will prefer to put their assets in less risky neighbouring Countries (Malaysia, Vietnam).

It is the interest of everybody, Elite as Red Shirts that everything ends in a peaceful manner.

IMHO, the Government, instead to accumulate the provocations, should cool down the situation by taking a whole set of serious measures for the stricken Northern population, defusing the situation at the roots, this will reopen the possibility of negociations with the leaders as their troops have good results. There are different ways for reopening the dialog (through MPs, Chavalit....)

Edited April 17, 2010 by Jerrytheyoung

[Sp0t]

Well if you know anything at all about Thailand then you'll know that the Army is own its own side.

"I had a dream"

[Frezie]

Thailand will have lost one of it's most intelligent, and educated Prime Ministers in decades and will end up with someone of the caliber of a Samak Sundaravej or a Chalerm - just what the country really deserves, so it can remain the underdeveloped, corrupt, laughing stock it seems to want to be..

I have to say I agree with this sentiment. Abhisit has inherited an inept and corrupt police force and inept army, many of whom are probably supporters of the reds and would put their personal views above any sense of duty.

It strikes me that 2 of the Thai's favorite western characters are "Pink Panther" and "Mr Bean". Sad thing is that the police and army leaders obviously see them as role models.

[chadintheusa]

Good response. The only thing wrong with the post you reply to is that Abhisit did not pull Anupongs strings. Anupong sat out the debacle yesterday morning, watched it go tits up the took charge. Hence Mark shaking like a blancmange on TV last night. He had had the rug pulled out from under him and his stooge in charge of comedic street policing is toast. He was starting to look like Goebels.

You are right about the divided loyalties and if the Army were crazy enough to slaughter a load of reds, you would find people from Bangkok going to Pattani, Beiruit, Gaza and Zimbabwe next year for their holidays to get some peace and quiet away from the troubles here.

IMHO

The only reason the army is able to control anything in this country is because the populous is likely to be meek and mild in front of aggression from the army. Add this to the fact that over the years various atrocities have been committed by the army but have been covered up, but this is becoming harder and harder to achieve. The army can no longer bring it's "full weight" to bear on these situations.

The people are starting to see the splits in the army more and more obviously because the army is having to put itself up for scrutiny concerning its efficiency and it's conduct more and more often. People don't believe that the army is nearly as efficient, as scary or as above the law as it used to be. People don't appear so intimidated by the sight of an M16 and a Vietnam War troop carrier any more.

As for Suthep being removed. Thank god. He was in charge for the Pattaya mess, he has been in charge for this one. The guy is a politician (enough said really) from the South. He is inept. I love the fact that it appears Anupong didn't want the job despite him obviously being the best man for it. Unfortunately, this is part of his job description, if he doesn't like it, he can always resign tomorrow.

The only way a society can function is if people follow the laws. They follow the law because if they don't, men with guns put them in prison. When a society realizes that the penalties for breaking the law no longer apply anarchy is knocking on the door. Anupong has never wanted this dropped in his lap, like most of us he can see that it is a damned if you do and damned if you don't deal.

[chadintheusa]

And ... since the reds supporters like to say all of this is OK "because the yellows did it first", the yellows went home after 9 days ruining the economy at Suvharnibhumi. Will that mean the reds will go home after 9 days ruining the economy in Ratchaprasong?

Well we have long passed the 9 day mark, so the answer is no!

[crusty]

it's amazing that this army can't even surround a hotel and remove some fat middle aged men from a room without incident. If the army can't protect the country against a bunch of farmers with sticks, what the heck would they do if say someone like Cambodia decided this would be a nice country to have? I wonder how many countries out there are looking at Thailand as possible fair game, seeing how helpless they really appear. Maybe the moral of the story is, image is just that, all show and no substance. Time to get it together and prove it has what it takes to protect the women and children, or maybe the women and children should do it instead?

Well they didn't exactly cover themselves in glory in Vietnam, except be first in line at the duty free PX for cigarettes and booze

[chadintheusa]

Can someone let the Thai police that Ricky Martin is looking for security guards for his next tour, maybe they can handle that. If they can dodge flying thongs. (they won't be women's however)

[Thai at Heart]

The only way a society can function is if people follow the laws. They follow the law because if they don't, men with guns put them in prison. When a society realizes that the penalties for breaking the law no longer apply anarchy is knocking on the door. Anupong has never wanted this dropped in his lap, like most of us he can see that it is a damned if you do and damned if you don't deal.

Yes, but over the years, the Thai army has been able to act as it has because it has always had a "Get out of Jail" free card. The army is seen as the saviour from anarchy because it can act above the law. The final arbiter in this type of civil protest has never been the law in Thailand, but the army. They have been the ones who have decided if the protest ends civilly or with bloodshed, and they have never been punished for wrongdoings in breaking up protests over the years. The courts have been proven irrelevant, and the bullet is the final arbiter.

One could say that the most serious serial offenders of law breaking in Thailand (coups after all are illegal) are the Thai army. I mean what can be more illegal than destroying constitutions. Holding up Thai society and saying that it only functions if it follows the law, when the biggest armed bunch of guys in the country are apparently above it, shows how absurd the system in Thailand has become.

Do you think Anupong doesn't want the job because he thinks he can't do it, or because if he does do it to the satisfaction of his superiors, his conduct can land him into trouble in a way that his predecessors never had to worry about both domestically and internationally? I presume we will see the guys at the front with their GX 200 bomb detectors to work out who from the reds may or may not be carrying grenades of course.

[hansnoi]

Depending on the post you read here you can think you live in the land of secrets, land of speculation, land of slander, land of sillies, land of shirts, land of shame, land of sinners, land of schemes.

I fear very much that after the events of the last days and with disaster looming the reality for every Thai will be land of sadness and land of sorrow.

Land of smiles will remain what it was: a slogan for foreigners

Edited April 17, 2010 by hansnoi

[anotherpeter]

If there is a major crackdown as several TVF members wish, we have to look at the consequences:

- first, History shows that it just postpones the issue until the circumstances are favourable to another unrest, or the cracks we perceive in Army and Police may drive the situation to Civil war (risk not neglectible in the current circumstances)

- secondly, as underlined, in our modern times, the World is watching closely. If the crackdown finishes in another bloodbath, Thailand will be considered as Burma for the Human Rights- at least by an important number of Countries, this will induce at least a relative isolation,

- in any case, Investors will prefer to put their assets in less risky neighbouring Countries (Malaysia, Vietnam).

It is the interest of everybody, Elite as Red Shirts that everything ends in a peaceful manner.

IMHO, the Government, instead to accumulate the provocations, should cool down the situation by taking a whole set of serious measures for the stricken Northern population, defusing the situation at the roots, this will reopen the possibility of negociations with the leaders as their troops have good results. There are different ways for reopening the dialog (through MPs, Chavalit....)

It is irrelevant what the government HAS done and what the government WILL do to help the people in the N/NE.

It is especially irrelevant to the reds and their supporters. Most of them will never hear about it anyway. Red TV and radio won't be announcing anything that the government does that will help them, and surely hasn't mentioned anything that the government has already done.

The red leaders don't want their people to know what the government has done to help them. If the people knew any of that, then there would be far less support for the reds.

[jucel]

I wonder if the 6 PAD guards who were caught with a fair few guns and ammo are being treated as 'terrorists'???

[LuckyLew]

[..] In the U.S., ... [..]

In the US this, in the US that, in the US, man I read that all day long.

It must be heaven, with everything being so perfect. (You're having

a great tea party time I guess.)

Can we please focus on the fact that this is NOT the US, and this is

not ABOUT the US now? (And that the world doesn't turn around

the US either? And that some of us might really, REALLY not give

a *** what would or wouldn't be in the US?)

Thanks, from someone not in the US but in Thailand.

I, for one, would like to know more about what additional power this

recent change has given the army, for instance, except the obvious

one. Does this increase the chance for a potential coup?

That would be a lot more interesting than what would ... Ok, I zip it.

If this happened in the US the new Army leader would

get priority seating at the Golden Arches

[LuckyLew]

The military said it was planning another operation to disperse the thousands of protesters from Bangkok's commercial district but the timing had not yet been decided.

"There will be an effort to retake the area. We can't allow protests there because it damages the country," army spokesman Sunsern Kaewkumnerd told reporters.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said that he was replacing his deputy as head of security operations in the capital, giving army chief Anupong Paojinda broader powers to tackle "terrorism".

Exactly what did the Thai army do to stop damage being done to the country when Suvarnabhumi was seized by the Yellows? Hopping around with Yellow flowers in gun barrels..

I would say more billions were lost over that compared to a few closed Bangkok Elite Paragon shopunits. At least now tourists can still come to Thailand but just visit other shopping malls.

You simply can't keep pointing to what the Yellows did to justify that the Reds are doing now.

Your right, they shouldn't .. but whenever they are losing an

arguement then then revert to "what about when yellow...."

[chadintheusa]

"Promotional material issued about the GT200 claims that it can detect a wide variety of items including ammunition, explosives, drugs, gold, ivory, currency, tobacco and "human bodies" at ranges of up to 700 metres (2,300 ft) on the surface, depths of up to 60 metres (200 ft) underground or under 800 metres (2,600 ft) of water, or even from aircraft at an altitude of up to 4 kilometres (2.5 mi). A "Substance Sensor Card" inserted into the device is said to create an "attracting field" utilising "dia/para magnetism" between the device and the substance that is to be detected. The field is claimed to make the antenna of the GT200 lock onto a signal, indicating the direction in which the substance can be located.[9] According to the promotional material, if the device is used correctly, it "can detect substance(s) through walls, (even lead-lined and metal ones), water, (fresh and salted), fresh and frozen food, (fish, fruit, tea, coffee, ice), vacuum flask, containers, petrol and diesel fuel and even buried in the earth" and can detect narcotics for up to two weeks after they have been ingested by a target individual.[9]" Quote Taken from another site

I think these GT200 Devices could be employed to find where the red shirt leaders are hiding. Even if they are underground or under water it can find human bodies. Sound like really useful instruments.

[anotherpeter]

I wonder if the 6 PAD guards who were caught with a fair few guns and ammo are being treated as 'terrorists'???

The reds dropped a few grenades on the yellows when they were protesting.

So, based on all the "The Yellows did ... " arguments, it's completely acceptable for the yellows to do that against the reds now.

When are people going to stop with these petty arguments of it's OK for the reds because the yellows did it too?

This crap will never stop until people stand up and say "None of it is right! All of them should be in jail."

[hagler]

Exactly. What the reds have created is anarchy. It simply can't be tolerated or there is no country.

No what the Reds have created is a sense of opportunity to change the status quo among the disenfranchised poor of the country. If this attempt fails there will be others to follow. The genie is out of the bottle now. Change is coming..

[hextac]

Your right, they shouldn't .. but whenever they are losing an arguement then then revert to "what about when yellow...."

I think you'll find that, that IS fundamentally THE argument.

[chadintheusa]

I wonder if the 6 PAD guards who were caught with a fair few guns and ammo are being treated as 'terrorists'???

The reds dropped a few grenades on the yellows when they were protesting.

So, based on all the "The Yellows did ... " arguments, it's completely acceptable for the yellows to do that against the reds now.

When are people going to stop with these petty arguments of it's OK for the reds because the yellows did it too?

This crap will never stop until people stand up and say "None of it is right! All of them should be in jail."

The yellows are not the current problem, it is the Reds that need to be dealt with now. Failure to do that and we can deal with what to do with the Yellows next week when they could be a current problem.

[Jerrytheyoung]

If there is a major crackdown as several TVF members wish, we have to look at the consequences:

- first, History shows that it just postpones the issue until the circumstances are favourable to another unrest, or the cracks we perceive in Army and Police may drive the situation to Civil war (risk not neglectible in the current circumstances)

- secondly, as underlined, in our modern times, the World is watching closely. If the crackdown finishes in another bloodbath, Thailand will be considered as Burma for the Human Rights- at least by an important number of Countries, this will induce at least a relative isolation,

- in any case, Investors will prefer to put their assets in less risky neighbouring Countries (Malaysia, Vietnam).

It is the interest of everybody, Elite as Red Shirts that everything ends in a peaceful manner.

IMHO, the Government, instead to accumulate the provocations, should cool down the situation by taking a whole set of serious measures for the stricken Northern population, defusing the situation at the roots, this will reopen the possibility of negociations with the leaders as their troops have good results. There are different ways for reopening the dialog (through MPs, Chavalit....)

It is irrelevant what the government HAS done and what the government WILL do to help the people in the N/NE.

It is especially irrelevant to the reds and their supporters. Most of them will never hear about it anyway. Red TV and radio won't be announcing anything that the government does that will help them, and surely hasn't mentioned anything that the government has already done.

The red leaders don't want their people to know what the government has done to help them. If the people knew any of that, then there would be far less support for the reds.

Your answer, I am afraid, is in line with a majority of TVF members, "Blood and Powder".

Yes the way to Peace is not easy but it worths to try it.

I am sorry but what HAS done the Government is obviously insufficient and has been announced very lately in the premises of the conflict: prices of rice, rubber, drought.... the farmers'incomes have to be supported SERIOUSLY not by cosmetic mini-measures. The development of the Country is not only Bangkok and its suburb and the toys of Army. A significant part of the Budget should be allocated to adress the issues 42% of the Population are facing....Instead the money is spoiled in Military toys.

[hextac]

Ever heard of the word "precedent"?

[on-on]

Sometimes I think many people don't understand that developing countries are still developing not just due to economic and HDI factors, but because the institutions of government and the political system aren't yet strong enough to support the country's operation. The Army doesn't follow this or that side of decide to do this or that based on any kind of institutional responsibility when the sh*t hits the fan because when push comes to shove it's more a self-interested organization than an institution of the government. The same goes for everything else. The guy above mentioned that when people don't follow laws, order breaks down. Yeah, that's what all of this is about. People in democracies (particularly nascent democracies) - red, yellow, whatever - don't follow laws out of fear of consequence, they follow them because of their particular interpretation of their social contract (though no one would word it that way). They follow laws put forth by a government that they feel vested in and that represents them and that governs a society in which they generally believe themselves to be participating as members. That's why people in America or the UK or wherever will stop at a red light in the middle of the night in a deserted small town and wait for it to turn green. They don't do that because they think the cops are watching and will arrest them, they do it because it's part of the system of rules that govern a society they feel benefits them. Here, the system of government is still in flux and no one on either of the political sides (who make up large enough minorities to matter) feel that the alternatives benefit them enough to invest themselves in the other's system of government. So, instead, they protest. The yellows didn't feel that way under Thaksin's people, the reds don't feel that way under the yellows' people and in the back of everyone's mind there's always that third option that's sort of a reset button allowing everyone to escape taking responsibility for forging a functional democracy. This will go on until there's no option on the table other than creating a functional government and at that point either they will or they won't and it's the "they won't" part that spooks me. We'll see. But in the mean time trying to compare the way this society and its institutions work to back home, wherever that is, with completely out of place debates about why the Army doesn't "do its job" and why the PM or anyone else doesn't "clean this mess up" is completely misunderstanding how developing countries with weak institutions of government operate and doesn't go anywhere substantive.

[personchester]

get 50.000 troops to Bangkok and outfit them with riot gear, shields and batons ONLY, and PUSH!

No, the above would not work in Thailand, due to the fact that people in S/E Asia as a whole when put under pressure of this kind have, by nature and by culture different temperamental reactions (compared to westerners) thus a "Gymnastic PUSH" by the army (as suggested above) would result into violence as we have already seen here a few days ago, negotiations and nothing else will solve this political impasse both in the short and long term.

Some postings here a making humouristic references to Dad's Army (UK) and Keystone Cops (US) those are of course a totally inappropriate comments given the seriousness of the crisis here, which resulted in over twenty deaths and many hundreds of hospitalised injuries without a solution in sight.

It appears also that the army is not totally committed here, and the top commanders no doubt know that the soldiers come from the same class of people that they have to face in BKK street combat, so they

have to be careful not to create a problems within the army itself, thus the commanders are bound to be in favour of negotiations to end the impasse.

The red shirts hold the view that the removal of the then (Thaksin) government by the militairy coup was an undemocratic act, hence their request /demand for the current government to resign and call new elections.

[Thai-Aust]

Unfortunately, this will likely all end with Abhisit resigning and probably moving overseas where he can probably make a good living under far less stressful circumstances. Thailand will have lost one of it's most intelligent, and educated Prime Ministers in decades and will end up with someone of the caliber of a Samak Sundaravej or a Chalerm - just what the country really deserves, so it can remain the underdeveloped, corrupt, laughing stock it seems to want to be.

In defence of Samak Sundaravej, although his premiership ended ungracefully as being a puppet of Thaksin, but his long political career had done a lot of good things for the country. If you have just resided in Thailand a few odd years ago you wouldn't know about his good work. For example he was one of the pioneers who introduced the ring roads in Bangkok.

My point is it's not kind to compare him with Chalerm, this crook has done absolutely nothing for the country.

My thought is pretty much similar to you in that Abhisit will resign and move overseas where he can be earn a decent pay but with a lot more peaceful life.

[craigt3365]

looks like next week will be real interesting...several of my wife's relatives in the Army have been called to Bangkok...left at 2am this morning...

[LuckyLew]

If there is a major crackdown as several TVF members wish, we have to look at the consequences:

- first, History shows that it just postpones the issue until the circumstances are favourable to another unrest, or the cracks we perceive in Army and Police may drive the situation to Civil war (risk not neglectible in the current circumstances)

- secondly, as underlined, in our modern times, the World is watching closely. If the crackdown finishes in another bloodbath, Thailand will be considered as Burma for the Human Rights- at least by an important number of Countries, this will induce at least a relative isolation,

- in any case, Investors will prefer to put their assets in less risky neighbouring Countries (Malaysia, Vietnam).

It is the interest of everybody, Elite as Red Shirts that everything ends in a peaceful manner.

IMHO, the Government, instead to accumulate the provocations, should cool down the situation by taking a whole set of serious measures for the stricken Northern population, defusing the situation at the roots, this will reopen the possibility of negociations with the leaders as their troops have good results. There are different ways for reopening the dialog (through MPs, Chavalit....)

What you say sounds allwell and good in theory but IMO

this situation is well and truely past the point of no return.

No matter what the outcome, there will be a group of people

that are not happy and will then feel they have the right in

the future to do as they please

A sad but true way to end possible future rebellions is the

squashing of the current rebellion. If you keep letting groups

hold entire counties hostages you will never advance as a

nation. Yes, a totally and complete crackdown on this group

might sting for a while, but groups will be less likely to act

the same as this group in the future.

Freedom of speech and freedom of assembly and protest are

fine and great, but this group has gone to far. A non willingness

to negotiate is irresponsible to type the least

[Thai at Heart]

Ever heard of the word "precedent"?

But that doesn't apply when some people and groups are created more equal than others. This is something that apparently a lot of people in Thailand believe and as such, is rendered irrelevant in this situation.

I mean if you are a policeman, but you are charged with murder, you can get out on bail, whereas others cannot. If you are person with a Merc you can drive over people and apparently deflect the charges. These are small events of course, but prove the point. Apparently, a lot of people in Thailand believe that this applies also to supporters of the Australian One Day International side or Manchester United/Liverpool. For some reason depending on which colour shirt you wear, you can end up facing the army or not.

Apparently the Democrat government and the Army are ardent fans of the Ozzie one day side, but no so keen on soccer.