Bangkok: Another Crackdown, More Bloodshed Expected

[Redsunset]

Yet another sad piece of garbage.

Thanks for posting it though, it's good to see the depths this 'newspaper' has fallen to.

If the NATION just prints garbage, why do you have over 3,000 posts here? It seems you have a lot of spare time on your hands and you love to read garbage? Explain that to us please...

I guess you too have too much time on your hands

4 post in 20 minutes all on the same thread and on

the same page ...

lols! FOUR posts in 20 minutes is a lot? You are joking, right Mr./Ms. 350++ Why don't you audit my previous posts before I posted these four? I think the last time I came on here was a week ago. I was not even a member before this crisis!

[landofthefree]

Hysterical, heavily biased nonsense - just another day at the office for the Nation writers. This is not journalism.

I guess the truth hurts!!!

Good for the journo!!

Only saying what most people think and know!!

He is spot on!!

Most people dont think and know this. The Nation reporter should do what I did,I walked around the red shirt area in Chit lom last night, there are so many of them and they are so well organised that I couldnt help but think that have already won. I just wish Abhisit would have elections and let the country move on. Using force against the red shirts will only strengthen their resolve and will inevitably lead to loss of life and probably to a return of Thaksin.

What about giving us an update on Silom.

Go an have a walk round the army boys, and see how organised they are!!

It always amazes me, these roving reporter types, walking around an area which could ignite at any minute.

You are NOT Thai, leave alone things that dont concern you.

You see these headlines "Innocent bystander hurt".................. you are not innocent sticking your nose into something that doesnt concern you.

I have lived here 10 yrs, the Thais will sort it out their way.... you and I dont matter. Our opinions dont matter. Walking around an area potentially becoming a war zone is plain daft.

I am going to Silom today so I will try and update you. I have also lived here for a lot of years. Walking around last night was not viewed as sticking my nose in by the Thai people that I saw instead they were very friendly. Dont believe the propoganda It is not a war zone it is a protest. I did not take sides just looked. I wish that people would realize that the news is full of propoganda and it is not a crime to look. What I saw yesterday was amazing. If you went and saw for yourself what was going on you would be able to get a feeling for the passion that these people have for what they believe in. I honestly cant see them loosing this.

[AGareth2]

The army are currently protecting Silom.

could that read disrupting?

[Redsunset]

"Give them what they want. End it."

The reds want confrontation. The reds want violence. That's what they will get.

Yup... seems that way to me too... the problem is that there are a lot of WOMEN AND CHILDREN amongst the red shirts who are serving as human shields. They are ignorant, poor, gullible or all three... whatever... if the army "mows everyone down" and sets Rajaprasong free, what do you think the consequences would be? What would happen if pictures of bloody, killed, "innocent" women and children hit the international press circuit? Getting rid of the trouble-makers, while seemingly obvious, is not an easy decision!!!!!

The army are currently protecting Silom.

I doubt very much that they will go into Ratchaprasong. At least not yet.

I'm not going to make any more predictions, because my hit rate on getting it right is 50/50 at best!

[Ricardo]

This is like chess.... we almost know what the end-game is.... Just think of it... the difference between what Abhisit wants and what the red shirts are demanding is only 6 months... you'd think that for that trivial amount of time, Abhisit would concede. He will not be re-elected anyway... the problem is that we (I) only know what I see and what I read. There must be so much going on behind the scenes that is affecting his performance. For me, with my limited information, an immediate dissolution is the obvious answer.

"you'd think that for that trivial amount of time, Abhisit would concede"

Except that he has already 'conceded' (or offered, live on TV, to the three red-shirt leaders) 12 months, while they conceded not a single day, so where is the balance or fairness, in this 'negotiation' ?

The UDD are holding a pistol, to the country's head, PM-Abhisit has to consider the whole country's interests, not just the red-shirts/Thaksin's clear desire for a "new Thai state" (Weera). I, for one, don't envy him the decision. He should continue to stand, and get the support of the military, for what's right for all the country.

[wayfarer108]

Hysterical, heavily biased nonsense - just another day at the office for the Nation writers. This is not journalism.

I guess the truth hurts!!!

Good for the journo!!

Only saying what most people think and know!!

He is spot on!!

Indeed he is. My neighbourhood still being held hostage by hillbilly hordes, who race their cars and motorcycles up and down my street with impunity 24 hours a day, but who won't let me or any of my 250,000 or so neighbours drive our own cars home. Meanwhile even most non-red taxis won't enter this neighbourhood as they don't like being searched by drunk hooligans (yes, so far every red guard who has searched us has been wobbling drunk).

Of course I don't mind since it's all for a noble cause - restoring the fortune of a megalamaniac billionaire, thereby instantly bringing justice to millions of people who appear to have no other means of supporting themselves other than through paid demos.

And I am so looking forward to this country being run by such distinguished statesmen as Jatuporn, Jakrapop, Chalerm, Chavalit, Weng and Arisman.

Edited April 20, 2010 by wayfarer108

[midas]

Yup, lots of women and children

All being set up by red shirt brainwashing leading machine

So sad to see ... most of them have no clue why they are there

Hopefully when push comes to shove ... the women and

children stay back and away from harm ..

Well if their IQ is as low as you suggest then they really are nothing but fodder and

there isnt much hope for Thailand.................

Astonishing

Edited April 20, 2010 by midas

[LomSak27]

david96 posted

Thailand needs national unity

From: The Australian

April 20, 2010 12:00AM

The alternative is street fighting among political proxies

THE army was back on the streets of Bangkok yesterday, sending a signal to the Red Shirt protest movement that they should lift their siege of the city and a message to the world that everything was under control. Neither is believable, Thailand's problems run much deeper than the damage done by a large and very well organised protest movement. The Red Shirts support former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, deposed in a military coup in 2006. They want an election, which the exiled Thaksin's side would be likely to win. Despite widespread claims of corruption against him, his policies, including free healthcare for all, make him the darling of the rural poor. But no matter how decisive an election outcome, a vote would solve nothing unless it was accepted by Thaksin's opponents, who despise his populism, sneer at his supporters and can put their own private army on Bangkok's streets. These Yellow Shirts occupied the airport for two months at the end of 2008, and there is talk of their taking on Thaksin's supporter.

The stand-off in the streets places Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in an impossible position. He was appointed, rather than elected, and has no credibility with Thaksin's camp. And the stand-off in the streets is a problem for the army, the usual arbiter of who governs. It seems the generals are loath to either shore up Mr Abhisit or, as they have often done before, take control themselves. The Red Shirts have too much popular support to be easily suppressed and there are suggestions there is sympathy for Thaksin's cause among rank and file soldiers. This was once the sort of situation solved by advice from King Bhumibol Adulyadej. But he is old and ill and shows no sign of intending to intervene.

And so it is up to the politicians. Mr Abhisit wants elections at the end of the year but last week army chief Anupong Paojinda called for an early poll. Given his tenuous position, the Prime Minister has little choice but to agree. Yet unless the political warlords agree to respect the popular vote and unless the winning side undertakes not to wreak revenge on the loser, the results will not matter much.

Without a government committed to national unity and an end to the existing entrenched animosities, Thailand faces the prospect of power going to the side with the toughest colour gang

Thanks for an outside opinion - one gets tired of the repetitive gibbering of the Nations writers and wants something, anything that is not a piece of biased rubbish than those democratic lapdogs can shovel out.

[SICA]

david96 posted

Thailand needs national unity

From: The Australian

April 20, 2010 12:00AM

The alternative is street fighting among political proxies

THE army was back on the streets of Bangkok yesterday, sending a signal to the Red Shirt protest movement that they should lift their siege of the city and a message to the world that everything was under control. Neither is believable, Thailand's problems run much deeper than the damage done by a large and very well organised protest movement. The Red Shirts support former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, deposed in a military coup in 2006. They want an election, which the exiled Thaksin's side would be likely to win. Despite widespread claims of corruption against him, his policies, including free healthcare for all, make him the darling of the rural poor. But no matter how decisive an election outcome, a vote would solve nothing unless it was accepted by Thaksin's opponents, who despise his populism, sneer at his supporters and can put their own private army on Bangkok's streets. These Yellow Shirts occupied the airport for two months at the end of 2008, and there is talk of their taking on Thaksin's supporter.

The stand-off in the streets places Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in an impossible position. He was appointed, rather than elected, and has no credibility with Thaksin's camp. And the stand-off in the streets is a problem for the army, the usual arbiter of who governs. It seems the generals are loath to either shore up Mr Abhisit or, as they have often done before, take control themselves. The Red Shirts have too much popular support to be easily suppressed and there are suggestions there is sympathy for Thaksin's cause among rank and file soldiers. This was once the sort of situation solved by advice from King Bhumibol Adulyadej. But he is old and ill and shows no sign of intending to intervene.

And so it is up to the politicians. Mr Abhisit wants elections at the end of the year but last week army chief Anupong Paojinda called for an early poll. Given his tenuous position, the Prime Minister has little choice but to agree. Yet unless the political warlords agree to respect the popular vote and unless the winning side undertakes not to wreak revenge on the loser, the results will not matter much.

Without a government committed to national unity and an end to the existing entrenched animosities, Thailand faces the prospect of power going to the side with the toughest colour gang

Thanks for an outside opinion - one gets tired of the repetitive gibbering of the Nations writers and wants something, anything that is not a piece of biased rubbish than those democratic lapdogs can shovel out.

Just a shame it's riddled with non-truth's and rubbish, like a previous poster pointed out!

[anotherpeter]

The army are currently protecting Silom.

could that read disrupting?

Would you rather the red shirts in there?

They have done a pretty good job of "disrupting" Ratchaprasong.

But that isn't giving them the violence they are looking for, so they want to take over the financial district as well.

[BKjohn]

almost know what the end-game is.... Just think of it... the difference between what Abhisit wants and what the red shirts are demanding is only 6 months... you'd think that for that trivial amount of time, Abhisit would concede. He will not be re-elected anyway... the problem is that we (I) only know what I see and what I read. There must be so much going on behind the scenes that is affecting his performance. For me, with my limited information, an immediate dissolution is the obvious answer.

"you'd think that for that trivial amount of time, Abhisit would concede"

Except that he has already 'conceded' (or offered, live on TV, to the three red-shirt leaders) 12 months, while they conceded not a single day, so where is the balance or fairness, in this 'negotiation' ?

The UDD are holding a pistol, to the country's head, PM-Abhisit has to consider the whole country's interests, not just the red-shirts/Thaksin's clear desire for a "new Thai state" (Weera). I, for one, don't envy him the decision. He should continue to stand, and get the support of the military, for what's right for all the country.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As the red shirts here will not admit, what is happening is nothing else but a coup attempt by Thaksin - the pictures in the Thai Newspapers show Chavalit and Thaksins brother in law sitting together, having petitioned ..........

Thaksin is following Al Quedas handbook for Terrorists 100% trying to regain power in Thailand and subsequently his 2+ billion $ and a lot more once he is back in power. Besides the cannon fodder, the real reds are paramilitary terrorists.

The government has no choice but to move very shortly even if this means pictures of wounded or dead children in the press. Who is to blame for those deaths ? no daubed Mr. Thaksin and his red shirted para's and not the current government. The reds will of course blame the government .....

Those reds are a minority who try to overthrow the current government for the personal gain of one person - all the speeches about the "poor crying out for ........." all propaganda BS.

Edited April 20, 2010 by BKjohn

[Jerrytheyoung]

Coming back to the topic:

Two tactical questions;

1- Can Anupong start a major operation before the meeting of his top staff which has been postponed to Friday?

2- Can Anupong launch a major operation as general Chavalit and khun Somchai have requested an audience from the King?

secondary question Is the postponing of the top staff meeting a consequence of the audience demand?

Think about that....

[kraxlhuber]

I think this is just part of an increasingly hysterical and desperate attempt by the Elite to force the Army to Kill its opponants.

The Army are still reluctant and possibly could be the peace makers here. They are not doing their masters bidding by killing this week as they realise that the masters could be in for a change!

The Yellow protesters are looking more and more like the flat earth society, pinning their hopes on some trumped up LM charges to give them something to rally around.

They seem to think that if the Army just kill a few thousand people, their regime can survive. It can't and more and more of their backers are beginning to realise it. Hence the Nation sending in the shock troops with this drivel.

Most of this is devisive propaganda and would be banned if it were as biased towards the Anti-Government side. Can't we raise the bar on this site and have less of it?

exactly - it's the last ditch attempt by the desperate Elite to retain power - it's over - they are doomed

doomed my foot,

the government is backed by,

the clerics

the aristocracy

the money,banks,stockmarket the casinos(yeah there are many of them now,owned by Chavalit

the drugpushers and makers(illegal drugs)

the industry

the oilcompanys

Obama Barracka

etc etc.

maybe the mafia and FBI and Fidij

[BKjohn]

I think this is just part of an increasingly hysterical and desperate attempt by the Elite to force the Army to Kill its opponants.

The Army are still reluctant and possibly could be the peace makers here. They are not doing their masters bidding by killing this week as they realise that the masters could be in for a change!

The Yellow protesters are looking more and more like the flat earth society, pinning their hopes on some trumped up LM charges to give them something to rally around.

They seem to think that if the Army just kill a few thousand people, their regime can survive. It can't and more and more of their backers are beginning to realise it. Hence the Nation sending in the shock troops with this drivel.

Most of this is devisive propaganda and would be banned if it were as biased towards the Anti-Government side. Can't we raise the bar on this site and have less of it?

exactly - it's the last ditch attempt by the desperate Elite to retain power - it's over - they are doomed

doomed my foot,

the government is backed by,

the clerics

the aristocracy

the money,banks,stockmarket the casinos(yeah there are many of them now,owned by Chavalit

the drugpushers and makers(illegal drugs)

the industry

the oilcompanys

Obama Barracka

etc etc.

maybe the mafia and FBI and Fidij

Both of you go and have another beer

[earthpig]

news reports this morning put the red shirt size at 5,000.

it doesnt matter which side one favors, the fact is that if these reports are true, the reds are running out of steam and abhisit's strategy is, in fact, working.

if the numbers pick up substantially, then we would come to an opposite conclusion.

but in the end, everything comes down to the number of red shirts at the main rally site. and for now, it appears that the reds are facing catastrophe.

this huge show of force by the army may be all that is required for the reds to continue to dwindle. that is why the red leaders are now faced with an agonizing dilemna.

stay put and fizzle out, or launch a kamakazi charge against the soldiers, in the hopes that the blood of these reds incites more to come down to bangkok and continue the struggle. but the problem with this strategy is the evident fact that since the bloodshed occured, the reds have been losing protestors. first it looked like that might be due to the holidays, but now with songkran over and crowds still small, it doesnt look that way.

rather, it looks like the red crowd, largely middle aged, has decided that events have gone too far. the dull life of the countryside might just have gotten more appealing.

we may just be at the end of the red revolt.

[BKjohn]

news reports this morning put the red shirt size at 5,000.

it doesnt matter which side one favors, the fact is that if these reports are true, the reds are running out of steam and abhisit's strategy is, in fact, working.

if the numbers pick up substantially, then we would come to an opposite conclusion.

but in the end, everything comes down to the number of red shirts at the main rally site. and for now, it appears that the reds are facing catastrophe.

this huge show of force by the army may be all that is required for the reds to continue to dwindle. that is why the red leaders are now faced with an agonizing dilemna.

stay put and fizzle out, or launch a kamakazi charge against the soldiers, in the hopes that the blood of these reds incites more to come down to bangkok and continue the struggle. but the problem with this strategy is the evident fact that since the bloodshed occured, the reds have been losing protestors. first it looked like that might be due to the holidays, but now with songkran over and crowds still small, it doesnt look that way.

rather, it looks like the red crowd, largely middle aged, has decided that events have gone too far. the dull life of the countryside might just have gotten more appealing.

we may just be at the end of the red revolt.

You are going to get flamed by the reds here who will no daubed argue that all those figures are wrong and the press is controlled bla bla bla

This is why the leaders and paramilitary guards are refusing to let any more return to their home province since they are afraid to find themselves without human shields -

[landofthefree]

david96 posted

Thailand needs national unity

From: The Australian

April 20, 2010 12:00AM

The alternative is street fighting among political proxies

THE army was back on the streets of Bangkok yesterday, sending a signal to the Red Shirt protest movement that they should lift their siege of the city and a message to the world that everything was under control. Neither is believable, Thailand's problems run much deeper than the damage done by a large and very well organised protest movement. The Red Shirts support former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, deposed in a military coup in 2006. They want an election, which the exiled Thaksin's side would be likely to win. Despite widespread claims of corruption against him, his policies, including free healthcare for all, make him the darling of the rural poor. But no matter how decisive an election outcome, a vote would solve nothing unless it was accepted by Thaksin's opponents, who despise his populism, sneer at his supporters and can put their own private army on Bangkok's streets. These Yellow Shirts occupied the airport for two months at the end of 2008, and there is talk of their taking on Thaksin's supporter.

The stand-off in the streets places Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in an impossible position. He was appointed, rather than elected, and has no credibility with Thaksin's camp. And the stand-off in the streets is a problem for the army, the usual arbiter of who governs. It seems the generals are loath to either shore up Mr Abhisit or, as they have often done before, take control themselves. The Red Shirts have too much popular support to be easily suppressed and there are suggestions there is sympathy for Thaksin's cause among rank and file soldiers. This was once the sort of situation solved by advice from King Bhumibol Adulyadej. But he is old and ill and shows no sign of intending to intervene.

And so it is up to the politicians. Mr Abhisit wants elections at the end of the year but last week army chief Anupong Paojinda called for an early poll. Given his tenuous position, the Prime Minister has little choice but to agree. Yet unless the political warlords agree to respect the popular vote and unless the winning side undertakes not to wreak revenge on the loser, the results will not matter much.

Without a government committed to national unity and an end to the existing entrenched animosities, Thailand faces the prospect of power going to the side with the toughest colour gang

Thanks for an outside opinion - one gets tired of the repetitive gibbering of the Nations writers and wants something, anything that is not a piece of biased rubbish than those democratic lapdogs can shovel out.

Just a shame it's riddled with non-truth's and rubbish, like a previous poster pointed out!

OK dont believe it and go back to reading the Nation

[anotherpeter]

Just a shame it's riddled with non-truth's and rubbish, like a previous poster pointed out!

OK dont believe it and go back to reading the Nation

Do you believe everything that was written in that (The Aus) article?

[jucel]

Isn't everyone tired of hearing farangs talking about the reds spouting violence all the time. How do you know??? I speak fluent thai, read and write too and i must admit when i watch red tv i hardly understand any of it! Some farangs are just reading out of context pro govt tripe ie nation etc etc. Only condemn the rhetoric if you hear and understand it first hand!!!

[BKjohn]

There are some 5,000 reds out there - at the height of the riots there were 100,000 + some - what is this talk about a "majority" about? Thailand has a population of 61 Million people - In Bangkok there are near 10 Million people who are being harassed by those terrorists - besides the "noo" there may be 1,000 paramilitary and their leaders holding a whole country hostage on behalf of an obvious crook

What has that got to do with democracy ? This is Terrorism on behalf of Thaksin who wants back his money and power He and his cronies use the Isaanies as cheap cannon fodder

As it has been said thousands of times here, Abhisit wants to hold elections in 9 months but this is too late for Thaksins interests because he would not be able to get his supporters into the key position he needs them in for his return - this whole affair is nothing but an attempted coup through the back door

Edited April 20, 2010 by BKjohn

[Motoon]

Fascinating to see how the divide even extend to foreigners here (or in the region). It seems that the quoted Nation report is an opinion of a writer therefore it will always come across as biased, more so if you stand on the other side of the fence. I would consider myself colorless in a political sense and I like to observe and assess with as much information available before forming an opinion. It has been quite painful to follow the speeches (some refer to it as shouting contests) made on the Red Stage. I think you should seriously and in earnest listen to ALL speeches that have been made since the start of the rally, best starting with Arisman opening speech at the meeting point before reaching Bangkok. There is no doubt for a neutral observer that the whole rally was always based on the threat of the use of extreme violence. Despite all good intentions that Abhisit might have, this act is played by sharks on both sides and nothing good will come out of it.

[Goooner]

Isn't everyone tired of hearing farangs talking about the reds spouting violence all the time. How do you know??? I speak fluent thai, read and write too and i must admit when i watch red tv i hardly understand any of it! Some farangs are just reading out of context pro govt tripe ie nation etc etc. Only condemn the rhetoric if you hear and understand it first hand!!!

I admit i dont speak Thai, however all of my staff do (Thai nationals), We are based very close to the Protest area and infact i can hear the loud speakers from the stage as i type this.

I have asked my staff to translate what they are saying on stage right now and here is a breakdown of what i am told.

1. The leaders are urging the protesters to become fighters, like their fore-fathers

2. Abhisit should stop killing thai people

3. Abhisit is evil and should leave the country or die by red hands

Perhaps you need to brush up on your thai skills, because the native speakers that i employ seem to understand what is being said on the stage very clearly.

[hanuman1]

"Give them what they want. End it."

The reds want confrontation. The reds want violence. That's what they will get.

Yup... seems that way to me too... the problem is that there are a lot of WOMEN AND CHILDREN amongst the red shirts who are serving as human shields. They are ignorant, poor, gullible or all three... whatever... if the army "mows everyone down" and sets Rajaprasong free, what do you think the consequences would be? What would happen if pictures of bloody, killed, "innocent" women and children hit the international press circuit? Getting rid of the trouble-makers, while seemingly obvious, is not an easy decision!!!!!

The army are currently protecting Silom.

I doubt very much that they will go into Ratchaprasong. At least not yet.

I'm not going to make any more predictions, because my hit rate on getting it right is 50/50 at best!

In that case, you should officially be advising at least one of the sides involved in this mess.

[bkkjames]

I think we are fast moving to the point of a stalemate and a solution to save face for both sides will come about.

Elections in 6 months.

(I could be totally wrong and another battle breaks out).

I hope for something like the former.

[SICA]

david96 posted

Thailand needs national unity

From: The Australian

April 20, 2010 12:00AM

The alternative is street fighting among political proxies

THE army was back on the streets of Bangkok yesterday, sending a signal to the Red Shirt protest movement that they should lift their siege of the city and a message to the world that everything was under control. Neither is believable, Thailand's problems run much deeper than the damage done by a large and very well organised protest movement. The Red Shirts support former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, deposed in a military coup in 2006. They want an election, which the exiled Thaksin's side would be likely to win. Despite widespread claims of corruption against him, his policies, including free healthcare for all, make him the darling of the rural poor. But no matter how decisive an election outcome, a vote would solve nothing unless it was accepted by Thaksin's opponents, who despise his populism, sneer at his supporters and can put their own private army on Bangkok's streets. These Yellow Shirts occupied the airport for two months at the end of 2008, and there is talk of their taking on Thaksin's supporter.

The stand-off in the streets places Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in an impossible position. He was appointed, rather than elected, and has no credibility with Thaksin's camp. And the stand-off in the streets is a problem for the army, the usual arbiter of who governs. It seems the generals are loath to either shore up Mr Abhisit or, as they have often done before, take control themselves. The Red Shirts have too much popular support to be easily suppressed and there are suggestions there is sympathy for Thaksin's cause among rank and file soldiers. This was once the sort of situation solved by advice from King Bhumibol Adulyadej. But he is old and ill and shows no sign of intending to intervene.

And so it is up to the politicians. Mr Abhisit wants elections at the end of the year but last week army chief Anupong Paojinda called for an early poll. Given his tenuous position, the Prime Minister has little choice but to agree. Yet unless the political warlords agree to respect the popular vote and unless the winning side undertakes not to wreak revenge on the loser, the results will not matter much.

Without a government committed to national unity and an end to the existing entrenched animosities, Thailand faces the prospect of power going to the side with the toughest colour gang

Thanks for an outside opinion - one gets tired of the repetitive gibbering of the Nations writers and wants something, anything that is not a piece of biased rubbish than those democratic lapdogs can shovel out.

Just a shame it's riddled with non-truth's and rubbish, like a previous poster pointed out!

OK dont believe it and go back to reading the Nation

QUOTE (david96 @ 2010-04-20 09:13:27) Thailand needs national unity

From: The Australian

April 20, 2010 12:00AM

The alternative is street fighting among political proxies

THE army was back on the streets of Bangkok yesterday, sending a signal to the Red Shirt protest movement that they should lift their siege of the city and a message to the world that everything was under control. Neither is believable, Thailand's problems run much deeper than the damage done by a large and very well organised protest movement. The Red Shirts support former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, deposed in a military coup in 2006. They want an election, which the exiled Thaksin's side would be likely to win. Despite widespread claims of corruption against him, his policies, including free healthcare for all, make him the darling of the rural poor. But no matter how decisive an election outcome, a vote would solve nothing unless it was accepted by Thaksin's opponents, who despise his populism, sneer at his supporters and can put their own private army on Bangkok's streets. These Yellow Shirts occupied the airport for two months at the end of 2008, and there is talk of their taking on Thaksin's supporter.

The stand-off in the streets places Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in an impossible position. He was appointed, rather than elected, and has no credibility with Thaksin's camp. And the stand-off in the streets is a problem for the army, the usual arbiter of who governs. It seems the generals are loath to either shore up Mr Abhisit or, as they have often done before, take control themselves. The Red Shirts have too much popular support to be easily suppressed and there are suggestions there is sympathy for Thaksin's cause among rank and file soldiers. This was once the sort of situation solved by advice from King Bhumibol Adulyadej. But he is old and ill and shows no sign of intending to intervene.

And so it is up to the politicians. Mr Abhisit wants elections at the end of the year but last week army chief Anupong Paojinda called for an early poll. Given his tenuous position, the Prime Minister has little choice but to agree. Yet unless the political warlords agree to respect the popular vote and unless the winning side undertakes not to wreak revenge on the loser, the results will not matter much.

Without a government committed to national unity and an end to the existing entrenched animosities, Thailand faces the prospect of power going to the side with the toughest colour gang.

I would expect better from The Australian. At least get some of the facts right.

"including free healthcare for all" - not quite. It was Abhisit who made it free (only because it cost more than 30-baht to collect the 30-baht).

"Yellow Shirts occupied the airport for two months" - 9 days.

"He was appointed, rather than elected" - since when was he appointed?

"can put their own private army on Bangkok's streets" - what's he talking about?

"Mr Abhisit wants elections at the end of the year but last week army chief Anupong Paojinda called for an early poll." - failing to mention that the end of the year is 12 months early.

"Without a government committed to national unity and an end to the existing entrenched animosities, Thailand faces the prospect of power going to the side with the toughest colour gang."

There is very little chance of a national unity government. Unless the reds are in control, they won't accept it.

Or perhpas you should have read this before you start telling others what to do. I don't read any newspapers in Thailand (or from around the world for that matter) for the simple reason a lot of them are biased or like to fan flames.

[BKjohn]

Isn't everyone tired of hearing farangs talking about the reds spouting violence all the time. How do you know??? I speak fluent thai, read and write too and i must admit when i watch red tv i hardly understand any of it! Some farangs are just reading out of context pro govt tripe ie nation etc etc. Only condemn the rhetoric if you hear and understand it first hand!!!

I admit i dont speak Thai, however all of my staff do (Thai nationals), We are based very close to the Protest area and infact i can hear the loud speakers from the stage as i type this.

I have asked my staff to translate what they are saying on stage right now and here is a breakdown of what i am told.

1. The leaders are urging the protesters to become fighters, like their fore-fathers

2. Abhisit should stop killing thai people

3. Abhisit is evil and should leave the country or die by red hands

Perhaps you need to brush up on your thai skills, because the native speakers that i employ seem to understand what is being said on the stage very clearly.

Thank you gooner - but you will find that there are still some red here who will claim this to be untrue for those who do not understand Thai, just look at the TV reports of the riots - AK 47's - petrol bombs - lit gas canisters thrown at the army bamboo spears - grenades - are NOT the tools of a peaceful demonstration - but the reds here will probably say those pictures were made up by the government .... you can not convince someone who has either no brain or has been brainwashed

Edited April 20, 2010 by BKjohn

[Harryon]

Document23.rtf

Isn't everyone tired of hearing farangs talking about the reds spouting violence all the time. How do you know??? I speak fluent thai, read and write too and i must admit when i watch red tv i hardly understand any of it! Some farangs are just reading out of context pro govt tripe ie nation etc etc. Only condemn the rhetoric if you hear and understand it first hand!!!

Do you not remember the threats to kill the Prime Minister, the Electoral Commissioners? And other threats to "eliminate" anyone who stood in their way? Threats to burn down buildings, to destroy the Skytrain? That a "hail of bombs from the sky" would fall on Bangkok? You even have an out of control Army General walking around inciting insurrection who has been linked to many terrorist acts!

On April 10, snipers protected by the Red Shirt camp shot and killed the commander of the 2nd Infantry Division and his deputy chief of staff. This proves there are elements within the protest movement that have the intent and ability to conduct deadly violence.

[ianwuk]

No-one bats an eyelid over all the people who died over the Songkran period so what is a few dead protesters on either side?

Mai pen rai

ianwuk

[hansnoi]

Hysterical, heavily biased nonsense - just another day at the office for the Nation writers. This is not journalism.

yep. agree.

If all the news that the NATION writes is garbage, WHY ARE YOU HERE? Why don't you start your own on-line website blog and do your own reporting so that we can see how clever you are.

for those of you who don't know: in (traditional) journalism there should be a strict division between news and comment. The newsarticles are supposed to be objective and giving the facts, the comment reflects the opinion of the newspaper. The article you all are referring to is a 'commentary' and as such gives the stand of the commentator/newspaper on this matter. You can agree with this comment or not, but on the base of this you cannot accuse the Nation of biased newsreporting.

[elcent]

the first one is probably for the red leaders fate? The second one is about the real thing and this will come to happen anyway ... The third one ... read betwen the lines ... within the next 2 or 3 weekswe all will know ... or even before?