Red-Shirts Blockade Thai Military Train

[MaiDong]

Red leaders threaten to shoot "bang fai" (home-made festival rockets) at Rajprasong buildings if troops move in.

http://www.twitter.com/tulsathit

very peaceful these reds '

Propaganda and spin again.

Reds said they would fire them at helicopters if they are attacked by helicopters.

They said that some may fall down on nearby buildings if that happens.

Whoever is twittering this nonsense should change their name to "BS merchant" perhaps ?

Not propaganda. In my last post I forgot to mention that not only bamboo spikes were found but also rockets. I suppose they were for the victory celebrations right?

[davee58]

reds need to grow up, especially the red supporting foreigners on this forum.

Exactly!

They need to act more responsibly and stop being led like sheep to the slaughter.

[gpdjohn]

Every average educated person knows that the majority of charges against Thaksin were politically motivated. That's also why no country that Thaksin has visited has yet agreed to extradite him. They won't join the Thai political circus. Just like Interpol won't. If Thaksin was really the dangerous criminal that the current Thai government paints him as, Interpol would have long arrested him. Sure, he's done some shady business deals and put money in his own pocket, but if those strict guidelines under which he was convicted would be enforced in Thailand, there would be no politician left in the country.

Interpol does not arrest anyone.

It is an organization that has memberships of different nations to disseminate information on wanted persons. It is not a law enforcement enity and has no arrest powers.

Now, back to the arguing....

[TheOldWolf]

Every average educated person knows that the majority of charges against Thaksin were politically motivated. That's also why no country that Thaksin has visited has yet agreed to extradite him. They won't join the Thai political circus. Just like Interpol won't. If Thaksin was really the dangerous criminal that the current Thai government paints him as, Interpol would have long arrested him. Sure, he's done some shady business deals and put money in his own pocket, but if those strict guidelines under which he was convicted would be enforced in Thailand, there would be no politician left in the country.

Interpol does not arrest anyone.

It is an organization that has memberships of different nations to disseminate information on wanted persons. It is not a law enforcement enity and has no arrest powers.

Now, back to the arguing....

The goverment don´t want him back. They just like him to feel the heat under his feeths and travel around the world like a zombie

[phetpeter]

Every average educated person knows that the majority of charges against Thaksin were politically motivated. That's also why no country that Thaksin has visited has yet agreed to extradite him. They won't join the Thai political circus. Just like Interpol won't. If Thaksin was really the dangerous criminal that the current Thai government paints him as, Interpol would have long arrested him. Sure, he's done some shady business deals and put money in his own pocket, but if those strict guidelines under which he was convicted would be enforced in Thailand, there would be no politician left in the country.

Interpol does not arrest anyone.

It is an organization that has memberships of different nations to disseminate information on wanted persons. It is not a law enforcement enity and has no arrest powers.

Now, back to the arguing....

The goverment don´t want him back. They just like him to feel the heat under his feeths and travel around the world like a zombie

I find it quite funny that the reds have put themselves into a prison (bamboo), because it isn't a blockade! Now the army should plug up the in and outlets that the bamboo supplier and the food vendors and the leaders of the reds keep popping in and out of.

Lastly any one who comes out should be locked up and investigated.

Finally the government should invite Taksin to join them for the final showdown.

[grandpops]

Every average educated person knows that the majority of charges against Thaksin were politically motivated. That's also why no country that Thaksin has visited has yet agreed to extradite him. They won't join the Thai political circus. Just like Interpol won't. If Thaksin was really the dangerous criminal that the current Thai government paints him as, Interpol would have long arrested him. Sure, he's done some shady business deals and put money in his own pocket, but if those strict guidelines under which he was convicted would be enforced in Thailand, there would be no politician left in the country.

Interpol does not arrest anyone.

It is an organization that has memberships of different nations to disseminate information on wanted persons. It is not a law enforcement enity and has no arrest powers.

Now, back to the arguing....

The goverment don´t want him back. They just like him to feel the heat under his feeths and travel around the world like a zombie

I find it quite funny that the reds have put themselves into a prison (bamboo), because it isn't a blockade! Now the army should plug up the in and outlets that the bamboo supplier and the food vendors and the leaders of the reds keep popping in and out of.

Lastly any one who comes out should be locked up and investigated.

Finally the government should invite Taksin to join them for the final showdown.

If you ever come to Thailand, you will probably not like it. It's hot and the people here are foreign and they do things differently to where you live.

At least I can go to bed with a laugh at one of the naivest posts of the day. Nice of you to show interest in the affairs of a country you have never visited.

Investigate

Invite Thaksin When the times right he will come back and guess what.... they'll wish he hadn't

You should read more political commentary and websites other than here and The Yellow Nation. Or stick to posting in the humour section. At least some of the PAD followers on here are intelligent and knowledgeable in their posts.

[vicco]

Well in less than a week we have had:

Attempt to arrest redshirt leaders at SC Hotel....total cockup...Reds get away...assault team goes home with tail between legs.

Reds announce they are going to Silom.....send in Army elite troops...Reds just don't bother to show up...army sits on its ass...police are in Mcdonalds with trucks parked ouside.

Army sends a train full of trucks and weapons south.....manages to get as far south as Khonkaen. Reds capture train and soldiers...army still sitting on its ass.

(the soldiers have been given accomodation and all the food and water they need....the mood is festive in KK....Reds are in charge)

Next the Reds may announce that they are going to the airport.....army rushes to the airport.....reds move in on Silom All things are possible in the land of smiles....

The army may sent in heavy reinforcements to KK to take back their train....the reds may tear up the tack so the train can't move...back to the drawing board...lots of nice places

to sit around near KK railway station...and food and water...no worries....There is even a couple of McDonalds around if they happen to bring along the police SWAT teams.

The military is ahead in one respect. So far they have a much lower body count than the reds. Proof positive that M16's are way superior to pointed bamboo sticks in a firefight.

Meanwhile here on the forum: Everyone is fighting, insulting each other, repeating the same nonsense over and over.....the end is near... the fat lady is ready to sing....been hearing that since mid March.....the reds shot first....no the army shot first....no guys in black were the only ones to shoot....the reds are Maoist, Nazi's, just regular socialists, maybe liberal democrats. Really they are just stupid rice farmers.....not really smart military strategists and political commentators like us guys on this here forum....

[Sisaketmike]

And if the full force of the military is with the reds?

Thats why they have to act now the moment a red tries to take a weapon or military personel they should be shot , enough warnings.

About 1,000 red shirts in Khon Kaen gathered at Khon Kaen train station at about 1.30pm after listening to a community radio programme which claimed that soldiers would leave for Bangkok to disperse the protesters.

They then seized the train which also carried 21 army vehicles and detained 80 soldiers on board.

Their commander then ordered his soldiers to get off the train. He told the red shirts that the soldiers would go to Pattani not Bangkok as claimed, but to no avail. Khon Kaen governor and other senior officials who rushed to the scene also failed to convince the red shirts to free the soldiers and trains.

The commanders’ message tha t the train ‘would go’ to Pattani means all. “Excuse us Sir, but the trains’ destination isn’t Krung Thep, the weapons, trucks and Superheroes are for the south, Sir.”No excuse.

But it wasn’t enough for the red shirt elite to let them go. Are the though soldiers now in red shirts, or hostages? Easy to understand that most weapons being used by reds came from friends in the Army.

What a bunch of toy soldiers. LOS= Land Of Soldiers. (Toy soldiers including their commander.)

I guess it’s more a cultural thing, Thais should watch more Western movies with Cowboys like Clit Eastwood, or Willy the Pimp to be able to defend their country instead of watching their soap operas.

To be perfectly honest, all they need is Rambo, Frankenstein, Superman and Mr. Bean, to end the violence. Four men would do the job. And Mr. Thaksin is watching all from Montebodia?

[cheguevara]

To be perfectly honest, all they need is Rambo, Frankenstein, Superman and Mr. Bean, to end the violence. Four men would do the job. And Mr. Thaksin is watching all from Montebodia?

I can vouch for Mr. Bean. He's a tough cookie.

[grandpops]

Reminds me of a scenario I witnessed along time ago. It was the 4th of July after a fireworks celebration at the fairgrounds. I was sitting in my truck with my g.f and her two young sons. We were stuck there because so many people were parked and wanting to leave at the same time. Right in front of my truck, a big drunk man was trying to pick fights with every guy who walked by - just for the fun of it. After knocking down a couple guys, all others wisely took a long sweep around him. He kept standing there with his fists raised. Then a skinny tall guy snuck up behind him and took a roundhouse shot to the big guy's face. He connected, but barely. While all this was happening, I was trying to shield the little boys from seeing it, but to no avail. We had a front row seat. Then the big guy got a grin on his face and squared off with the tall thin guy and started punching his lights out. The thin guy tried to get away, but couldn't. Not a pretty sight.

My spin on how this applies to the trouble in Bangkok: The Big guy is the security forces. The tall thin guy is the Reds Shirts. The Red shirts want to provoke violence (they've been trying for weeks), but just as soon as they get it started, and they get their butts kicked (by the Army, the big guy), they're going to scream for it to end. "Stop, stop, you big bully! I only hit you once, but now you're pummeling me in to the ground! Stop, it hurts - somebody help me!" ....and blame the big guy when it's all over.

That would make a great anecdote with a bit of work.

Trouble is you mentioned he was a big drunk bully, but at the end of the second paragraph, it was the tall thin man who was the villian! He should have blamed the big guy when it was over... it was his fault! You must have forgotten this fact from your first paragraph by the time you got to the punch line.

If the bully is wrong in the first paragraph, surely he is wrong in the second? Or are the two not related?

Back to the drawing board me thinks.

EDIT. PS, I am trying to go to bed, can you guys please post more accurately and stop mentioning Patpong for five minutes.... Thank you

Grandpops

[321niti123]

It almost sounds like made-up-news a la notthenation.

It's hard to believe there were real military on board that train. Similarly, it's hard to believe that it was real military personnel who abandoned their vehicles and their weapons to the Reds on April 10th. If the Cambodians or Burmese are watching these events they might be thinking to themselves, "wow, we can just march in to Thailand with a couple thousand troops and take over the whole country in a week."

What sort of military brass will allow his troops to get ordered around by rabble?

Some heads should roll - both figuratively and literally.

If it was a trainload of school teachers, it would be more believable, ....but a trainload of military personnel ....come on!

R U sure burma and cambodia can to that with the amount of bullies, terrorists, mobs, gangster style so open on the streets-they would be too scared, i think its safe to say that the combination of reds, yellows, southern terrorists, and school gangs at least make up 1 million and everyone of these groups can beat the force of both the military and the police, all we have to do is put the is stage a red protest on the west of the armed forces, the pad on the east, the southern terrorist on the south and all government armed forces on the north of the opponent forces, each group will be so pissed that there is a barrier between rival groups they will kill anyone in between them to get at their real enemy.

[321niti123]

It almost sounds like made-up-news a la notthenation.

It's hard to believe there were real military on board that train. Similarly, it's hard to believe that it was real military personnel who abandoned their vehicles and their weapons to the Reds on April 10th. If the Cambodians or Burmese are watching these events they might be thinking to themselves, "wow, we can just march in to Thailand with a couple thousand troops and take over the whole country in a week."

What sort of military brass will allow his troops to get ordered around by rabble?

Some heads should roll - both figuratively and literally.

If it was a trainload of school teachers, it would be more believable, ....but a trainload of military personnel ....come on!

R U sure burma and cambodia can to that with the amount of bullies, terrorists, mobs, gangster style so open on the streets-they would be too scared, i think its safe to say that the combination of reds, yellows, southern terrorists, and school gangs at least make up 1 million and everyone of these groups can beat the force of both the military and the police, all we have to do is put the is stage a red protest on the west of the armed forces, the pad on the east, the southern terrorist on the south and all government armed forces on the north of the opponent forces, each group will be so pissed that there is a barrier between rival groups they will kill anyone in between them to get at their real enemy.

[Redsunset]

However, having said that... here are today's rumors/facts:

1. Rajaprasong employees told to go home early

2. Major hotels CLOSED today

3. Chidlom Road closed for a while

4. Tons of messages from Facebook saying Judgement Day is 9:00pm tonight

5. Scattered skirmishes between multi-colored protesters and red shirts

Which all could add up to a big....................NOTHING!

PAD/Yellow/Multicolor are said to be going to attack tonight or in the next couple of days with guns and weapons and the intent to incite death and kill some of their own people, then demand the army take action against the reds.

Remember, the PAD are going to start the fight.

Not the reds, not the army..... those PAD/Yellow (now hiding in multicolor).

The violent parliament shutting, airport shutting, killing people at Don Muang airport bunch, all return again.

Just remember this, for after it all happens those to blame with premeditated intent are the PAD.

you are already making excuses for the reds , what a lot of BS the only people to blame are thaksin and his thugs.

Its FACT.

The PAD/Yellow/Multicolor are now there "taunting" the Reds and trying to incite violence.

FACT.

It is pre-meditated with intent.

Therefore if people die tonight or the following days, it IS MURDER and this is pre-meditated action to incite violence and death.

The reds will get exactly what they deserve

With any luck the yellows will be successful and wipe out the reds

like the crips vs the bloods

What a mess.... and on Friday the multi colored shirts say they will mass 100,000... same crap over and over again... like the movie GROUND HOG DAY....

[britmaveric]

Does feel we are in an endless loop of sorts.

[nickupton]

Any foreigner who has some romantic notion of the reds being a simple folk who just want equality ought to get down into their camp and see for themselves what is happeneing and try to talk to some reds. I say try because talking isn't something they seem very keen on unless it is to say "civil war". I have attempted to engage red supporters both before and after the 10th and it is always the same. You must do what we say, you must think what we think. I must need re-educating for daring to have a different opinion to theirs (incidently my opinion included higher taxes for the rich, a law to force employers to advertise remuneration rates for jobs so that all applicants can compete on level terms, laws to punish corrupt politicians, strict land zoning in and around Bangkok to prevent huge factories polluting surrounding rice fields and to make it more economical for businesses to locate in the provinces). None of these ideas was listened to or understood only ridiculous rhetoric like "Abhisit is like the Burma government", "Thaksin will come back and help us" and even on one occasion "we must kill rich people to get equality".

For those who still think this is a peaceful protest about democracy take a look at how they are being whipped up into a violent frenzy. Has no one noticed how many of these reds are dressed in the style of the Khmer Rouge? Does that not worry anybody here? It certainly worries me. How many Thai flags can be seen at the redshirt stockade? Yesterday I counted one medium sized Thai flag and 25+ red flags of varying sizes, some with a black design on them that I am not familiar with. I don't understand why people are not seeing the significance. In Europe groups don't dress like nazis by accident, they dress like nazis because they are nazis. Similarly, in Asia people don't dress like fanatical communists by accident, it is because they are fanatical communists.

The red shirts have declared war on the government. They have vowed to hunt down the government. That means they have violent intentions. Where does this stop? Only the government and their helpers? Does it extend to those ultra rich Bangkokians who do nothing all day but go shopping? Does it go further to those who have nice cars or houses? Where does it stop? Are they against all those with better lives than they have? Are they going to hunt down people who have voiced opposition to the reds? Will they fall back on one of Mr Thaksin's favourite plays - "the farang is to blame"?

I have taken the time to go and speak with the reds, see what is actually happening and quite frankly they scare me. I am someone of very modest income but to these guys I probably look like a "rich elite". I hate their lawlessness under the guise of democracy and I hate the way they will not talk to anyone.

I don't want to see bloodshed and I don't want to see a protracted conflict here but if it starts I will be asking for someone to pass the kalashnikov so that I can point it at a red head as I trust the Bangkok elite not to attack my family for not being "prai" whereas I do not trust the redshirts to let honest, hardworking people go about a peaceful life and to try and improve society in a constructive way.

[Sisaketmike]

More updates from nation

THE NATION: A red leader at Rajprasong said they prepared 'unlimited' skyrocket (bung-fai) to shoot at helicopters. (con't)

THE NATION: The red leader also threatened that those sky-rockets may directly hit buildings in the area

Oh ya... the reds are so peaceful

I think when this is all over, I will have them over for a spot of tea

A Bung Fai rocket made here in the Isan is a deadly weapon. It sometimes kills those who are trying to send it into the sky. Most people so drunk that they're only mumbling.

To shoot down a helicopter is a very interesting criminal activity, even if they wouldn't hit the heli.

Those self made rockets are sometimes changing the direction and could kill some reds, or even hit Myanmar, or Cambodia which would be the beginning of a new Bung Fai war.

They'd shoot back with real Bung Fais. All reds should have a bigger Bung Fai in their brains.That's democracy.

[jackr]

Yes the isralies are the worlds best military, they have the best training, best intelligents, and are die hard cold blooded and fearless killers.

What <deleted>. The best thing about their forces is the totty. What major wars have the Israeli military fought and won in the last 50 years, bar stomping on the little man? If they want to prove how adept they are militarily, perhaps they should square off with Iran without the threat of their 200 warheads and without the The Superpower holding their hand...

[BKjohn]

This whole situation is a nightmare. A coup attempt by one single man with a lot of money trying to get his power back which he lost when he simply went too far in taking Thailand to the cleaners + there is the little matter of 2 Billion $ he also wants back.

This is the most dangerous configuration possible; A very rich man with no morals what so ever controlling a mob of a hundred thousand or so people who make Imbeciles look like university graduates.

Thailand will change after should he win

Thailand - a free, democratic country with hand-full of very rich people - a fast growing middle class + a poor population for whom the government has made a number of improvements already and has more coming up

Thailand under Thaksin - a dictatorship with no more free elections or free speech one extremely wealthy person with total power + a very rich group of his close supporters + a huge poor population who are kept at bay by Thaksins military which is fully under his control - well after he took over and didn't need those knuckleheads anymore he told them to fuc_k off back to Isaan and doesn't really give a shit anymore

[NADTATIDA1]

Any foreigner who has some romantic notion of the reds being a simple folk who just want equality ought to get down into their camp and see for themselves what is happeneing and try to talk to some reds. I say try because talking isn't something they seem very keen on unless it is to say "civil war". I have attempted to engage red supporters both before and after the 10th and it is always the same. You must do what we say, you must think what we think. I must need re-educating for daring to have a different opinion to theirs (incidently my opinion included higher taxes for the rich, a law to force employers to advertise remuneration rates for jobs so that all applicants can compete on level terms, laws to punish corrupt politicians, strict land zoning in and around Bangkok to prevent huge factories polluting surrounding rice fields and to make it more economical for businesses to locate in the provinces). None of these ideas was listened to or understood only ridiculous rhetoric like "Abhisit is like the Burma government", "Thaksin will come back and help us" and even on one occasion "we must kill rich people to get equality".

For those who still think this is a peaceful protest about democracy take a look at how they are being whipped up into a violent frenzy. Has no one noticed how many of these reds are dressed in the style of the Khmer Rouge? Does that not worry anybody here? It certainly worries me. How many Thai flags can be seen at the redshirt stockade? Yesterday I counted one medium sized Thai flag and 25+ red flags of varying sizes, some with a black design on them that I am not familiar with. I don't understand why people are not seeing the significance. In Europe groups don't dress like nazis by accident, they dress like nazis because they are nazis. Similarly, in Asia people don't dress like fanatical communists by accident, it is because they are fanatical communists.

The red shirts have declared war on the government. They have vowed to hunt down the government. That means they have violent intentions. Where does this stop? Only the government and their helpers? Does it extend to those ultra rich Bangkokians who do nothing all day but go shopping? Does it go further to those who have nice cars or houses? Where does it stop? Are they against all those with better lives than they have? Are they going to hunt down people who have voiced opposition to the reds? Will they fall back on one of Mr Thaksin's favourite plays - "the farang is to blame"?

I have taken the time to go and speak with the reds, see what is actually happening and quite frankly they scare me. I am someone of very modest income but to these guys I probably look like a "rich elite". I hate their lawlessness under the guise of democracy and I hate the way they will not talk to anyone.

I don't want to see bloodshed and I don't want to see a protracted conflict here but if it starts I will be asking for someone to pass the kalashnikov as I trust the Bangkok elite not to attack my family for not being "prai" whereas I do not trust the redshirts to let honest, hardworking people go about a peaceful life.

Hi Nck,

In reply to your post and staying on topic i was at the train station earlier and i can assure you the atmosphere all around was nothing but friendly and not a hint of violence about the area,in fact contrary to your beliefs about talking to the red shirts and feeling scared,i have never felt that way and up here in red shirt country it is everywhere,the tv is on in all the bars and restaurants 24/7, the "propaganda" is to be seen every day by the people who have there own ideas of how there country should be run and by whom,we as foriegners if feel unsafe have the oppurtunity to get out if we want but most of us do not feel threatend by any of this i am sure.

I am asked my opinion everyday of what i think,but decline to comment because if i am having a jar i tend not to want to talk poltics or religion as we all know what can happen,but that is worldwide not just here.

Your comparison with the Khymer Rouge is scary indeed and i see where you are coming from,i have thought about this before,but can you really see a genicide like that happening here?...No it would never happen the thais and the world would not have it. would they? Do you think America would intervene to protect the rice fields?

[gigiman]

These reds just won't give up , trying to take over the military is a definite no no and they will get every thing they deserve , to many warnings now if action is not taken these crazy reds will kill a lot of people.

There is only one way to stop them and that is with the full force of the armed services.

Gee !! wow you think so ? So there is only one way to stop these " crazy reds " right ? because as you say they " just wont't give up "

So lets just bring out the " full force of the armed services "

That is brilliant IGNORANCE , on your part !!! Your kind of simple minded thinking is exactly why this country is in so much trouble ,,, are you blind or what ????

These crazy reds as you call them are not crazy ,,, they are obviously protesting and angry for a reason . And the sooner you address that reason and do something about it ,,, the quicker the problem can be solved.

The sooner people like you realize that , the more you will begin to realize how useless and ridiculous your statements are as if to say lets just send the army out to eradicate them and that will make them just go away and forget about their issues.

I submit you are ,, ????

[animatic]

∞[/b]

Will this mobious loop never end?

[gigiman]

It almost sounds like made-up-news a la notthenation.

It's hard to believe there were real military on board that train. Similarly, it's hard to believe that it was real military personnel who abandoned their vehicles and their weapons to the Reds on April 10th. If the Cambodians or Burmese are watching these events they might be thinking to themselves, "wow, we can just march in to Thailand with a couple thousand troops and take over the whole country in a week."

What sort of military brass will allow his troops to get ordered around by rabble?

Some heads should roll - both figuratively and literally.

If it was a trainload of school teachers, it would be more believable, ....but a trainload of military personnel ....come on!

Why is that so hard to believe ? There are many young men some of which look like boys ,,, that are conscripts ,,, many from up country and their heart is not in this fight.

Why do you think many ran and dropped their weapons and abandoned tanks and APC's during the last clashes.

Because they don't care, they don't want to kill their cousin's and brothers ,, and their heart ain't in the fight.

The top brass might be committed but they are not the ones doing the fighting.

What about this don't you get ??

[sbk]

Drop the flames now. Don't even go there because those who do will be suspended,

[hkt83100]

^Yes - the military can send more troops to join their red brothers.

I am in progress to begin to understand why and how you can do about 8.73 postings per day

[whiterussian]

http://twitter.com/photo_journ

Ppl who are not involved. Stay the fuc_k out of silom tonight till after 9 am tmmrw. Trust me on this | another sleepless nite

about 4 hours ago via TweetDeck

RT @ktiu: I'm proposing a 3-step-plan: 1) everyone chill the fuc_k out. 2) dissolve parliament. 3) beers on me / I'll drink 2 that

Why hasn't the Thai journalists association or the FCCT complained about the new #redshirts media tag? Several journo's assaulted already

@photo_journ we have raised the matter with leaders & pointed out that it breaches international conventions. Stay tuned plse

[Brocher]

Any foreigner who has some romantic notion of the reds being a simple folk who just want equality ought to get down into their camp and see for themselves what is happeneing and try to talk to some reds. I say try because talking isn't something they seem very keen on unless it is to say "civil war". I have attempted to engage red supporters both before and after the 10th and it is always the same. You must do what we say, you must think what we think. I must need re-educating for daring to have a different opinion to theirs (incidently my opinion included higher taxes for the rich, a law to force employers to advertise remuneration rates for jobs so that all applicants can compete on level terms, laws to punish corrupt politicians, strict land zoning in and around Bangkok to prevent huge factories polluting surrounding rice fields and to make it more economical for businesses to locate in the provinces). None of these ideas was listened to or understood only ridiculous rhetoric like "Abhisit is like the Burma government", "Thaksin will come back and help us" and even on one occasion "we must kill rich people to get equality".

For those who still think this is a peaceful protest about democracy take a look at how they are being whipped up into a violent frenzy. Has no one noticed how many of these reds are dressed in the style of the Khmer Rouge? Does that not worry anybody here? It certainly worries me. How many Thai flags can be seen at the redshirt stockade? Yesterday I counted one medium sized Thai flag and 25+ red flags of varying sizes, some with a black design on them that I am not familiar with. I don't understand why people are not seeing the significance. In Europe groups don't dress like nazis by accident, they dress like nazis because they are nazis. Similarly, in Asia people don't dress like fanatical communists by accident, it is because they are fanatical communists.

The red shirts have declared war on the government. They have vowed to hunt down the government. That means they have violent intentions. Where does this stop? Only the government and their helpers? Does it extend to those ultra rich Bangkokians who do nothing all day but go shopping? Does it go further to those who have nice cars or houses? Where does it stop? Are they against all those with better lives than they have? Are they going to hunt down people who have voiced opposition to the reds? Will they fall back on one of Mr Thaksin's favourite plays - "the farang is to blame"?

I have taken the time to go and speak with the reds, see what is actually happening and quite frankly they scare me. I am someone of very modest income but to these guys I probably look like a "rich elite". I hate their lawlessness under the guise of democracy and I hate the way they will not talk to anyone.

I don't want to see bloodshed and I don't want to see a protracted conflict here but if it starts I will be asking for someone to pass the kalashnikov so that I can point it at a red head as I trust the Bangkok elite not to attack my family for not being "prai" whereas I do not trust the redshirts to let honest, hardworking people go about a peaceful life and to try and improve society in a constructive way.

Good posting Nick with some very interesting insights into what the Red Shirt mobs are REALLY like, as opposed to the romantic ideas of the Thaksin apologists

[dobadoy]

Out of intereste, where the hel_l did they get all those tires from? I was at Sala Deang today, and that barcicade strectches across the whole instersection, must be 30- 40 metres. Gotta be several hundred tires, and they ain't small ones from the Isuzu farm pickup.

[whiterussian]

I wish someone would coin a phrase that includes REDS up here in Chiang Mai, who are decent folk.. own shops, drive SUV's etc, tie red ribbons to the car aerial etc...

I think you could call these 'middle class' folk.

and the REDS who would put their lives on the line... (seen plenty of skinny REDS, the type you see on the back of a pickup going to construction jobs)

a bit like the PAD yellows with weapons and guns...

but yes, i suppose by REDS in this context we are talking about a MOB.

anyway feel better now... I am surrounded by REDS!!! (although noticed a few houses on the moobaan with yellow flags from every possible attachment point - a big F*** YOU to the entire neighbourhood! )

[whiterussian]

But we could probably discuss on how much the "real elite" pays in taxes... probably as much as a rice farmer in Isaan.

If you look at the figures since Thaksin was booted out, you do see corporation tax has decreased dramatically.

(or i had the chart upside down)... lost the pdf with the figures... think it was min of finance..

[Redsunset]

Yes the isralies are the worlds best military, they have the best training, best intelligents, and are die hard cold blooded and fearless killers.

What <deleted>. The best thing about their forces is the totty. What major wars have the Israeli military fought and won in the last 50 years, bar stomping on the little man? If they want to prove how adept they are militarily, perhaps they should square off with Iran without the threat of their 200 warheads and without the The Superpower holding their hand...

lols! The Israelis have the world's best military???!!! Proof? Evidence?

???????