An Embarrassing Fiasco For Thai Government

[jefro]

Not just a security expert, ex CIA no less - 15 years and still standing - wowzer!

Ah, but do you know the colour of the Boathouse? :

A few on this forum will understand!

There is no boathouse at Hereford.

[mca]

He had announced that the police were there to take "decisive measures against terrorists" - the government's word for an alleged protest hard core.

Did Aunty ever fall for the Terrorist spin! This is one of the most skillfully crafted shows of complete contempt for a Gov spokesperson I have seen in a long time.

You might want to rewrite your sentence grandpops because it reads as if the BBC did fall for the terrorist spin.

[chainarong]

This so-called attempt to capture a couple of red-shirts sounds more like a poorly thought out boy scout jamboree activity.

About time the PM sacked all the idiots at the top of the military and the police and appointed capable people to run these government facilties.

can't sack them because there is a whole load of idiot's waiting in the cue, this is what happens when Generals are in charge of departments, get ride of them, bring in a rule that anyone can be a member of parliament, no degree need ,so anybody can be a pollie, and put people with the right qualifications in the top positions, untill this is done, this will go on forever , I Guess it's highly entertaining for someone who studies political science though.

[ChiangMaiFun]

An observation regarding American expats in this forum...

Please Confirm or Deny the following:

You're an American and a Republican: -Pro Thaksin

You're an American and a Democrat: -Pro Abhisit

Or... tell me if it's the other way around.

you gotta be kidding me.

what about the Brits, French, Russians, etc.?

If I 'were' an American I'd be a Democrat - yet I sympathise (do not read agree with everything - nor a Thaksin supporter) with the reds (I'm a Brit).

[ChiangMaiFun]

An observation regarding American expats in this forum...

Please Confirm or Deny the following:

You're an American and a Republican: -Pro Thaksin

You're an American and a Democrat: -Pro Abhisit

Or... tell me if it's the other way around.

It would be the other way around.

I agree - the three most 'yellow' on these threads come across as 'very' Republican and right wing - I consider myself more left than right (not 'Maoist' ok before you kick-off) - but I would add sympathizing with the red cause and supporting Thaksin are two completely different things

[Thai at Heart]

An observation regarding American expats in this forum...

Please Confirm or Deny the following:

You're an American and a Republican: -Pro Thaksin

You're an American and a Democrat: -Pro Abhisit

Or... tell me if it's the other way around.

you gotta be kidding me.

what about the Brits, French, Russians, etc.?

Um, Xeno, whilst the lines are not as clearly drawn in Thailand, I think you have your American Democrat and Republican well mixed up in Thai terms.

[animatic]

An observation regarding American expats in this forum...

Please Confirm or Deny the following:

You're an American and a Republican: -Pro Thaksin

You're an American and a Democrat: -Pro Abhisit

Or... tell me if it's the other way around.

you gotta be kidding me.

what about the Brits, French, Russians, etc.?

ROTFLOL...

How you can imagine we fit in either box so tightly is beyond me.

Yes and what about the Brits.

Torys for Thaksin

BNP for PTP

Liberal Democrats for Banharn

SNP for Sanoh...

Victoria Beckham for PM Oak

French

Socialists for PTP,

Front National for Jotuporn and Arisman

UDF for Abhisit

Parti républicain, radical et radical-socialiste for Weng

Rally for the Republic for Thaksin

Sorry Charlie the Tuna, this concept is a wash out.

[selftaopath]

Watermelon army and tomato police. What a fruity affair.

Wait till the strawberry SWAT, rhubarb marines and rambutan rangers come into play. Then things will really kick off.

Kick off? As in a "foot ball" match perhaps? LOL Possibly then the Thai police would/could possibly show some success. ???? Ah maybe not.

[selftaopath]

This so-called attempt to capture a couple of red-shirts sounds more like a poorly thought out boy scout jamboree activity.

About time the PM sacked all the idiots at the top of the military and the police and appointed capable people to run these government facilties.

Oh how I agree. BUT seems like what is foremost is their "poor faces." LOL Would it ever be possible for some people to merely take responsibility for actions or inactions? ??????? HUMN ????? Not here any time soon I suspect.

Pity, the beautiful hard working Thai people deserve more; much more.

[Thai at Heart]

This so-called attempt to capture a couple of red-shirts sounds more like a poorly thought out boy scout jamboree activity.

About time the PM sacked all the idiots at the top of the military and the police and appointed capable people to run these government facilties.

Oh how I agree. BUT seems like what is foremost is their "poor faces." LOL Would it ever be possible for some people to merely take responsibility for actions or inactions? ??????? HUMN ????? Not here any time soon I suspect.

Pity, the beautiful hard working Thai people deserve more; much more.

The most wonderful contradiction in terms when we all say that the PAD and the Reds must take responsibility for their actions for the damage they have caused, and yet NO ONE in a position of responsibility has taken any measure of the blame for their total incompetence so far.

[danc]

Not just a security expert, ex CIA no less - 15 years and still standing - wowzer!

Ah, but do you know the colour of the Boathouse? :

A few on this forum will understand!

'Fraid not but we also have a sighting in Hereford - maybe a consult, certainly not black-ops - busy busy, indeed so busy it's a wonder that he has time to bestride the forum amongst all us civvies, dispensing all that military know-ho and suggestions on how to get a few more bodies up on the slab - almost like there is unfinished business from previous campaigns

[asiawatcher]

What a mockery all this comes to. Ineffective Police and Army covered with bright coloured medals (for what?) and mob ruling a cosmopolitan city.

A Prime Minister who is issuing orders for civility and complete ignor(ance) by those empowered to act.

A convicted criminal paying to (yes) 'terrorise' a populace and Interpol has not been called in to arrest him? Remove the head of the snake (and the money tree) and see what happens.

Thailand your time is up. You are now the laughing stock of all Asia.

If the Thai Army/Police are incapable of taking orders (as it will affect their income - poor dears) call in the US or Brits or Aussies and clear the streets of this 'mob rule'.

Allow the Govt to get on with it and in the interim sack all the heads of the Police down to Sergeant and as already mentioned in these strings, pay a starting salary above Baht 6,000 a month so they don't have to take bribes. I m sure the public here is also unaware police here have to buy their own guns meaning there is a huge market for weapons and ease of access to almost anyone.

It is well known Thailand runs as perhaps the most corrupt country in SE Asia and this 'display' of inability to control the 'out-of-control' means things need to happen and now.

Many airports mate if you don't like it. So long as the PAD leave them open when you plan to leave. Surely it would be the final indignity for you if you had to curse the PAD for stranding you at the airport.

And please stop appologising for them. This is where the seeds to all of this were sown. If they had just left Samark, Somchia in charge they would have been voted out of office by now, and in all propability, Mark would be in his first year as Thailands best PM.

Sorry he got impatient and took the poison challis from his elite masters. HE could have been good for the country, (still may be in ten years time or so) if he was his own man...... BUT.... he isn't! FACT

Keep taking the blue pills grandpops, that will give you something to entertain you.

[traderjm]

I agree - the three most 'yellow' on these threads come across as 'very' Republican and right wing - I consider myself more left than right (not 'Maoist' ok before you kick-off) - but I would add sympathizing with the red cause and supporting Thaksin are two completely different things

Correct you are, of course the root of the problem is NOT the BKK Elite as so many tourists and non residents like to believe when throwing their two cents into the debate but rather the built in corruption all the way from the Village elders in these small towns up the food chain odd how it seems in every one of these so called dirt poor villages there seems to be a few people that have the nice big western style house and the German cars in the driveway and their kids go abroad for schooling.... guess they must be the BKK elite huh???? So silly that so many of the REDS don't even know who their "REAL" enemy is..

[warfie]

Not just a security expert, ex CIA no less - 15 years and still standing - wowzer!

Ah, but do you know the colour of the Boathouse? :

A few on this forum will understand!

Tell me about an ambush. I ambushed you with a cup of coffee!

[xenomorph]

An observation regarding American expats in this forum...

Please Confirm or Deny the following:

You're an American and a Republican: -Pro Thaksin

You're an American and a Democrat: -Pro Abhisit

Or... tell me if it's the other way around.

you gotta be kidding me.

what about the Brits, French, Russians, etc.?

ROTFLOL...

How you can imagine we fit in either box so tightly is beyond me.

Yes and what about the Brits.

Torys for Thaksin

BNP for PTP

Liberal Democrats for Banharn

SNP for Sanoh...

Victoria Beckham for PM Oak

French

Socialists for PTP,

Front National for Jotuporn and Arisman

UDF for Abhisit

Parti républicain, radical et radical-socialiste for Weng

Rally for the Republic for Thaksin

Sorry Charlie the Tuna, this concept is a wash out.

My question was a bit hasty formulated and drawn very quick comparisons. The reason I the the American example, is because the political landscape is rather homogeneous, with only two political fractions. It's quite interesting though, the comparisons Animatic made. Even though Thai political fractions is not directly comparable to the ones in Europe or US, it is still educative for us foreigners to make it anyhow. The comparisons above are interesting. Would be great if the Britts, French, Germans, Dutch, Scandinavians would fill in here and pair the existing Thai fractions with the one you got in your home country. I believe there will be great to learn by doing so!

.

Edited April 18, 2010 by xenomorph

[MacWalen]

Thai is indeed interesting, made international news.

[gregb]

An observation regarding American expats in this forum...

Please Confirm or Deny the following:

You're an American and a Republican: -Pro Thaksin

You're an American and a Democrat: -Pro Abhisit

Or... tell me if it's the other way around.

As an American who finds both the Republicans and the Democrats two sides of the same twisted, corrupt despotic system of government, I am offended you would associate the Democrats with Abhisit. They are much worse than him.

I would think it should be the following:

You're an American and a Republican: -Pro Thaksin

You're an American and a Democrat: -Pro Thaksin

You're an American who thinks voting is nothing but a sham - Pro Abhisit

Both Republicans and Democrats would find themselves right at home with Thaksin the corrupt dictator. Only people enlightened enough to see through the veil of the two party system would understand that Abhisit is also mired in corruption, but at least someone who is not so far gone as to be possible to strike a deal with.

I think your attempt to frame this problem within the political realities of any other country is doomed to failure.

[lannarebirth]

I agree - the three most 'yellow' on these threads come across as 'very' Republican and right wing - I consider myself more left than right (not 'Maoist' ok before you kick-off) - but I would add sympathizing with the red cause and supporting Thaksin are two completely different things

Correct you are, of course the root of the problem is NOT the BKK Elite as so many tourists and non residents like to believe when throwing their two cents into the debate but rather the built in corruption all the way from the Village elders in these small towns up the food chain odd how it seems in every one of these so called dirt poor villages there seems to be a few people that have the nice big western style house and the German cars in the driveway and their kids go abroad for schooling.... guess they must be the BKK elite huh???? So silly that so many of the REDS don't even know who their "REAL" enemy is..

Did the "Bangkok Elite" conspire with local Chao Por to deforest much of Isaan and the rest of Thailand? Do they build or hold interest in , along with the local Chao Por, massively polluting factories that have killed rivers and dozens of fish species? Have they rendered 100,000's of rai of Isaan paddy field useless in their salt recovery schemes? The answer is yes to all of these. The thing is this was all done with the aid of the politicians they keep electing and the Thai Police that are their "allies".

These "Bangkok Elite" make up less tha 1/10 of 1% of the population of Bangkok however, so why are they trying to bring the city of Bangkok, most of whose population is poor, to its knees?

Edited April 18, 2010 by lannarebirth

[cheguevara]

You're an American and a Republican: -Pro Thaksin

You're an American and a Democrat: -Pro Thaksin

You're an American who thinks voting is nothing but a sham - Pro Abhisit

Makes you wonder, if Abhisit was an American ...what party would he join? Probably the Tea Party.

[kuffki]

You're an American and a Republican: -Pro Thaksin

You're an American and a Democrat: -Pro Thaksin

You're an American who thinks voting is nothing but a sham - Pro Abhisit

Makes you wonder, if Abhisit was an American ...what party would he join? Probably the Tea Party.

So many people bashing Abhisit, yet he is one of very few in this country who are actually very well educated and best fit to actually govern.

He is one of very few who actually studied and graduated rather then having mommy and daddy pay 25k per semester per year to be passed.

People have forgotten that it is not only him, but many people in the background who call the shots, not exactly the easiest job in the world to be stuck in the middle of it all, not to mention the irrationality's in this country.

I think he has done an excellent job trying to lead this country and he does deserve some credit for it.

Edited April 18, 2010 by kuffki

[BKjohn]

What I find amazing is that in an article I read today, a woman makes some interesting statements as to how comfortable it is. Food is great, there are even showers and loos - plus of course she earns more money than if she was working...... medical assistance is of course provided ....

No wonder they don't want to leave their cozy camp!!!!

Suggestion to the military:

Make it less comfortable for them and a lot will leave

Helicopter passing over a few times a day dropping tear gas - during night time drop tear gas and shock grenades every hour and a lot of them will leave without bloodshed than mop up the rest with deployment of CS gas and troops

[cheguevara]

You're an American and a Republican: -Pro Thaksin

You're an American and a Democrat: -Pro Thaksin

You're an American who thinks voting is nothing but a sham - Pro Abhisit

Makes you wonder, if Abhisit was an American ...what party would he join? Probably the Tea Party.

So many people bashing Abhisit, yet he is one of very few in this country who are actually very well educated and best fit to actually govern.

Yeah and sadly he's not doing anything in order to better educate those who can't afford it and those less fortunate than him. Not every "average Thai" can afford to go to study at Oxford.

[BKjohn]

So many people bashing Abhisit, yet he is one of very few in this country who are actually very well educated and best fit to actually govern.

Yeah and sadly he's not doing anything in order to better educate those who can't afford it and those less fortunate than him. Not every "average Thai" can afford to go to study at Oxford.

================================================================================

===================================================

This guy must be one of the none educated thai's himself because if he knew who Che really was he would pick another nick - anyway another red shirt

Edited April 18, 2010 by BKjohn

[cheguevara]

This guy must be one of the none educated thai's himself because if he knew who Che really was he would pick another nick - anyway another red shirt

You're calling me "none educated"?

[kuffki]

You're an American and a Republican: -Pro Thaksin

You're an American and a Democrat: -Pro Thaksin

You're an American who thinks voting is nothing but a sham - Pro Abhisit

Makes you wonder, if Abhisit was an American ...what party would he join? Probably the Tea Party.

So many people bashing Abhisit, yet he is one of very few in this country who are actually very well educated and best fit to actually govern.

Yeah and sadly he's not doing anything in order to better educate those who can't afford it and those less fortunate than him. Not every "average Thai" can afford to go to study at Oxford.

You absolutely right, but you forget he is only the PM, also have the government -other MP's. Plus this is no different to any other country in the world. Something you fail to understand is that no matter who wins-poor will remain poor. Even if Thaksin came back or Reds ruled, rest assured-poor will remain as they are, and their life will not be changed at all.

If history taught us anything, is that people(poor) stay the same, while leaders get it all. If you still need evidence just look at Russia and its history. 100 year ago revolution so "so called" gave power to the people and what happened? leaders had it all, while poor stayed poor.

Not to mention, its little hard to get on with the job when you get hit with red shirts, their leaders and everything else that pops up in this country every week or so.

[BKjohn]

This guy must be one of the none educated thai's himself because if he knew who Che really was he would pick another nick - anyway another red shirt

You're calling me "none educated"?

YEP .. well you must be, considering your statement and choice of nick

[BKjohn]

Thailand is an emerging country. 40 years ago where most of us now live was either jungle or rice paddies.

Child labor was abolished in Europe only 70 years ago and up to about 50 years ago; A European borne into a working class family had a fat chance of getting into a university.

International schools in Thailand have to import teachers even from the Philippines and Europe because there are no decent Thai teachers of international standards.

However, you are blaming Abhisit for not having completely changed and improved the school-system in Thailand since he got into office ??????

You should think before posting

Edited April 18, 2010 by BKjohn

[gregb]

[ I would add sympathizing with the red cause and supporting Thaksin are two completely different things

If only anyone who was a red shirt actually agreed with you CMF, it might add just an ounce of credibility to your statement.

Unfortunately, your position is not the position of the red shirts. Supporting the red shirts and supporting Thaksin ARE the same thing.

Please show me a single group of red shirt supporters who will vocally denounce Thaksin, and I will grant you some veracity to your statement. Heck, I might even support them. Until then, your statement is a position of fantasy.

Support the poor, rural Thais, yes. Support the reds, and by extension Thaksin? Absolutely not.

Edit: Just reread your statement. Maybe I was too quick to jump to conclusions. "sympathizing" may not actually be the same thing as supporting. I suppose I can sympathize with a terrorist without actually approving of him. I won't retract my earlier statement, but I will temper it that perhaps it could be misconstrued. I will never approve of or support the reds, but I can sympathize with the way some of their members have been misled.

Edited April 18, 2010 by gregb

[LindsayBKK]

SC Park Hotel is a Red Shirts Supporter - Are they Laundering Money?

The Police were after a Central Key to get into any room

as they didn't know what room the Red Shirt Leaders were in.

Embarrassing for Police not Government. Abhisit did the right thing

by handing security over to the Military.

But General Watermelon is retiring this year so I am guessing he

wants to end his soldier life with a play it safe attitude.

[kuffki]

SC Park Hotel is a Red Shirts Supporter - Are they Laundering Money?

The Police were after a Central Key to get into any room

as they didn't know what room the Red Shirt Leaders were in.

Embarrassing for Police not Government. Abhisit did the right thing

by handing security over to the Military.

But General Watermelon is retiring this year so I am guessing he

wants to end his soldier life with a play it safe attitude.

Very good point Abhitist is a one man army, who is criticized by everyone, his own party, police, army, reds, thai people, yellows, EVERYONE.

He has now given the authority to army, so no one can criticize him anymore, as he was not the one on the streets shooting people or giving orders to the soldiers of what to do.

But i also think there is another view which no one has considered as yet.

PAD has given government 7 days to deal with protestors. I have a feeling people in the government knew about this, before the official statement came out.

Once yellow clash with red, army must step in to stop the violence. Guaranteed there will be deaths on both sides, but no military or government can be blamed and fingers could only be pointed at each other, ie red and yellow