Thai Protesters Brace For Crackdown As Compromise Rejected

[NCFC]

Up until today it looked as though there was a small ray of hope in this sorry mess. The army was saying there would be no forcible crackdown, the police were staying out of it,the reds were making concessions in their demands for dissolution and academics from the sidelines were urging the PM to seek a basis to start negotiations.

Then Abhisit rejected negotiations out of hand. Just at the moment when Thailand needed a statesman, Abhisit acted like a politician.

If there is an attempt to use force to clear the reds from the streets then the PM will be responsible for any deaths and injuries that result. The mood yesterday was for talks. It appears Abhisit does not wish to endthis impasse through peaceful means.

[Redsunset]

Up until today it looked as though there was a small ray of hope in this sorry mess. The army was saying there would be no forcible crackdown, the police were staying out of it,the reds were making concessions in their demands for dissolution and academics from the sidelines were urging the PM to seek a basis to start negotiations.

Then Abhisit rejected negotiations out of hand. Just at the moment when Thailand needed a statesman, Abhisit acted like a politician.

If there is an attempt to use force to clear the reds from the streets then the PM will be responsible for any deaths and injuries that result. The mood yesterday was for talks. It appears Abhisit does not wish to endthis impasse through peaceful means.

I totally disagree. His timing might be lousy, but I was looking for Abhisit to be this decisive and firm a long time ago. There is no way he should concede to the red shirt's demands. Why? He is "negotiating" with terrorists? Why break the law because he/government is being threatened? I know the stakes are high, but I applaud Abhisit for standing up for what is right. Again, his timing might be off - late, indecisive, poor execution - but in this case, I'm glad he did not concede. We are not bargaining at Chatuchak Market here...

[Netfan]

This is the end... my only friend... the end....

Sadly this is not the end but just the begining of the radical political turmoil for Thailand. Should Abhisit decide to make this a bloodbath in order to retain his power then tens of millions of thais in the countryside will wake up and then the situation could get very ugly Imagine all the foodstuffs from the countrside being cut off to Bangkok for a period of weeks or months For many years now I have though that Thailand was ripe for civil war, but I didn't think it would occur until HRH had passed, if Abhisit chooses to try and take this situation down by force then that timetable for civil war may be hastened quite a bit

If the lawful government moves forward in upholding the law and holding terrorists and lawless mobs accountable for their actions as well as showing they will no longer be tolerated ... then we will see an end to this kind of thing in Thailand from all sides. If he bows to the wish of terrorists and lawless mobs seizing parts of the country as was the case at the airport, then we can see the next unhappy group repeat this type of behavior as it will continue to be standard operating procedure in Thailand for change .... mob rule.

Just like they did when the yellow took siege of the airport You can't have it both ways there my friend, the fact is that popular support for the red shirts grows in the countryside each and every day, and should Abhisit resort to the use of military force and instigate a blodbath then that popular support will transform into a popular movement and those slain at the hands of Abhisit will become heros of that movement

Again with the old "boo hoo, the yellows took over the airport, so anything the reds do is okay", ignoring the fact that it was a different government in charge. And you are saying that now the army should do nothing but then they should have taken action? Isnt that a double standard? And don't ignore the fact that warrants were issued for yellow leaders, they surrendered, were released on bail, they didnt run away, and the court case is ongoing. And again you seem to wish for a bloodbath to prove some point that you are trying to make. Oh, and don't forget to tell us how an anti socialist like yourself supports an armed socialist revolution.

[VegasVic]

Typical post by a city dweller Those farmers in the countryside have been living off the land for hundreds of generations just fine, long before paved roads, cars, TV's and cellphones, and they can very easily live without Bangkok, but should food shipments from the countryside be totaly cuttoff to Bangkok (either willingly by the growers or by rebels turning back trucks and boats) then the residents of Bangkok will find out within a matter of weeks just who holds the ultimate power in Thailand

I didn't say just Bangkok.

You can't claim though that if half the country boycotts their produce, they won't be in trouble? Afterall they need to sell that to someone. They're not only farming for themselves now. And with extreme drought in the north and northeast especially, someone needs to pay for all that water pumps and water delivery from other parts of the country on top of the normal costs that they have every other season.

They need whatever they can get and even that's not enough for them to survive. Isn't this what they say the rallies are all about?

This year will be very hard for the farmers in the north. And all I said before was that something should be done to make their life easier. To help them help themselves, instead of hurting them furthermore with boycotts.

On your "who has the ultimate power" I don't agree completely. Yes, food prices would increase dramatically, as products would need to be imported from somewhere else. So as long as airports and ports remain open, the ones who would suffer the most would be the poor population, who are exactly those that support the reds.

So however you take a look at it, such an action would cause much more hardship on already stretched population, which surely doesn't deserve that.

I do wish to hear from you what you would do to improve lives of the poor? Or do you think they are well off already, as the post above reads?

My post was not calling for causing more misery to poor people but rather hoping for responses with ideas how to do quite the opposite.

As hard as it might be for some farmers in those isolated areas of potential drought, they will still have food to put on the table You see those farmers in the countryside know how to live off the land, they are only a generation away from the third world that many of them grew up in, so losing their Satelite TV's and cellphones and driving their cars and motorbikes less will not change their lives much, however a city like Bangkok that relies on over 80% of their foodstuffs from the countryside will be crippled As long as the airports remain open? We have seen how easy it was for your yellow shirt friends to close down the airport without firing a shot now didn't we, so just imagine how easy it would potentially be for some highly motivated citizens who were armed and fighting for the future of their country

[Lodestone]

Prediction (not sure if anyone's made this yet (I'm about 12 pages behind)):

Following Thai tradition, there will be another(!) military coup, Anupong will install himself (or an appointee) as acting prime minister and he will agree essentially to some version of the 30+60 Red Shirt timetable of parliament dissolution and new elections.

I believe this is a probable scenario because:

1. Anupong must be extremely pissed at Abhisit for flat out rejecting the Red Shirt compromise offer (that Anupong may've had a role in himself) and was just starting to bring things back from the brink.

2. Anupong has said multiple times he's against any kind of forcible removal of the Red Shirts that would likely result in injuries and deaths.

3. Anupong also understands that the current situation has dragged on about as long as it can and something has to be done.

Edited April 24, 2010 by Lodestone

[lannarebirth]

Then Abhisit rejected negotiations out of hand. Just at the moment when Thailand needed a statesman, Abhisit acted like a politician.

That is incorrect. Abhisit has not rejected negotiations. What he did was turn down the Reds latest ultimatum and gave his reasons for doing so.

[TheItaliann]

Again with the old "boo hoo, the yellows took over the airport, so anything the reds do is okay", ignoring the fact that it was a different government in charge. And you are saying that now the army should do nothing but then they should have taken action? Isnt that a double standard? And don't ignore the fact that warrants were issued for yellow leaders, they surrendered, were released on bail, they didnt run away, and the court case is ongoing.

And some of them are even running the current government while their case is pending.

[gilfhunter]

A disappointing but unsurprising response from the biggest stubborn mule PM the world has ever seen.

oh and a good thing to do is surrender to a bunch of farmers everytime they've got a beef is what you would do is it?? that sends out a good message to any other lunatics,come and wreck bangkok..

taksin is the criminal,if he would've done his time he could've been out by now and fighting his own battles instead of running around the world hiding and paying this lot to do his dirty work for him..

[elcent]

Up until today it looked as though there was a small ray of hope in this sorry mess. The army was saying there would be no forcible crackdown, the police were staying out of it,the reds were making concessions in their demands for dissolution and academics from the sidelines were urging the PM to seek a basis to start negotiations.

Then Abhisit rejected negotiations out of hand. Just at the moment when Thailand needed a statesman, Abhisit acted like a politician.

If there is an attempt to use force to clear the reds from the streets then the PM will be responsible for any deaths and injuries that result. The mood yesterday was for talks. It appears Abhisit does not wish to endthis impasse through peaceful means.

the mood, or sudden change by the reds for talks stems from the overwhelming evidence against the red leaders who ordered their armed thugs to shoot soldiers and civilians, nothing else.

If the gov would agree to negotiation despite the hard evidences against the red leadership would mean nothing else than this gov bows to terror and terrorists.

[Redsunset]

Then Abhisit rejected negotiations out of hand. Just at the moment when Thailand needed a statesman, Abhisit acted like a politician.

That is incorrect. Abhisit has not rejected negotiations. What he did was turn down the Reds latest ultimatum and gave his reasons for doing so.

... and as I mentioned above, why on earth should he negotiate between right and wrong? Why on earth are the red shirts so adamant about immediate dissolution versus in six months? What is their compelling arguement???

[Netfan]

As hard as it might be for some farmers in those isolated areas of potential drought, they will still have food to put on the table You see those farmers in the countryside know how to live off the land, they are only a generation away from the third world that many of them grew up in, so losing their Satelite TV's and cellphones and driving their cars and motorbikes less will not change their lives much, however a city like Bangkok that relies on over 80% of their foodstuffs from the countryside will be crippled As long as the airports remain open? We have seen how easy it was for your yellow shirt friends to close down the airport without firing a shot now didn't we, so just imagine how easy it would potentially be for some highly motivated citizens who were armed and fighting for the future of their country

This is precisely what they are upset about. They were given a taste of it by Thaksin and now they want more. Nothing wrong with that, but the way to get it is to work for it, not through handouts, which is what I would think a tea party person would be all in favor of- not an armed "redistribute the wealth" revolution...which you are calling for.

Edited April 24, 2010 by Netfan

[Redsunset]

Up until today it looked as though there was a small ray of hope in this sorry mess. The army was saying there would be no forcible crackdown, the police were staying out of it,the reds were making concessions in their demands for dissolution and academics from the sidelines were urging the PM to seek a basis to start negotiations.

Then Abhisit rejected negotiations out of hand. Just at the moment when Thailand needed a statesman, Abhisit acted like a politician.

If there is an attempt to use force to clear the reds from the streets then the PM will be responsible for any deaths and injuries that result. The mood yesterday was for talks. It appears Abhisit does not wish to endthis impasse through peaceful means.

the mood, or sudden change by the reds for talks stems from the overwhelming evidence against the red leaders who ordered their armed thugs to shoot soldiers and civilians, nothing else.

If the gov would agree to negotiation despite the hard evidences against the red leadership would mean nothing else than this gov bows to terror and terrorists.

Heck yes! I mean if I walked up to the Government House and asked Abhisit to dissolve Parliament in 30 days he would ignore me. Why should he do it because he is being forced? What does THAT say about his leadership????

[Redsunset]

As hard as it might be for some farmers in those isolated areas of potential drought, they will still have food to put on the table You see those farmers in the countryside know how to live off the land, they are only a generation away from the third world that many of them grew up in, so losing their Satelite TV's and cellphones and driving their cars and motorbikes less will not change their lives much, however a city like Bangkok that relies on over 80% of their foodstuffs from the countryside will be crippled As long as the airports remain open? We have seen how easy it was for your yellow shirt friends to close down the airport without firing a shot now didn't we, so just imagine how easy it would potentially be for some highly motivated citizens who were armed and fighting for the future of their country

This is precisely what they are upset about. They were given a taste of it by Thaksin and now they want more. Nothing wrong with that, but the way to get it is to work for it, not through handouts, which is what I would think a tea party person would be all in favor of- not a "redistribute the wealth" revolution

Yes... there are some examples of very hard working people from Isaan... they work 20 hours a day... work hard; achieve; and are successful. Maybe they are not millionnaires, but their money is hard earned... this is how to get a voice.

[Netfan]

Again with the old "boo hoo, the yellows took over the airport, so anything the reds do is okay", ignoring the fact that it was a different government in charge. And you are saying that now the army should do nothing but then they should have taken action? Isnt that a double standard? And don't ignore the fact that warrants were issued for yellow leaders, they surrendered, were released on bail, they didnt run away, and the court case is ongoing.

And some of them are even running the current government while their case is pending.

Name the "some"

[elcent]

-- The Nation

Some 27 of the 87 people wounded by grenades or in clashes near Silom Road on Thursday night remain in hospital, with three of them in a coma, the Erawan Medical Centre said yesterday.

About 60 injured victims of the confrontation between pro- and anti-government protesters were allowed to go home.

The centre also reported that 839 people were wounded and 25 killed in the April 10 clash between red-shirted protesters and soldiers at Phan Fa Bridge and Khok Wua intersection.

Meanwhile, Supatra Masdit, president of the Centre for Asia Pacific Women in Politics, said yesterday that prayers for peace would be held at Pra Kaew Temple at 7am today.

During the "Stop One Hour for Thailand" event, the Putthajayamangkalakatha canon will be recited nine times.

Organisers hope the ceremony will bring peace and security to the country and Thai people.

It will be broadcast nationwide by National Broadcasting Services of Thailand, so those at home can join in the activity, she said.

In related news, Chulalongkorn Hospital director Dr Adisorn Patradul yesterday sought cooperation from red-shirt protesters camped at the hospital entrance on Rajdamri Road - not to intrude in the hospital compound, after some reportedly carried crude large sticks and demanded to search its buildings on Friday night. This action made staff feel uneasy and have fears for their safety.

The red-shirt rally also prompted the hospital to close its special-hour clinic from Friday till today, he said, asking the red-shirts to open a lane from Rajdamri Road to Sala Daeng intersection so ambulances can reach the emergency room more easily.

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[VegasVic]

Up until today it looked as though there was a small ray of hope in this sorry mess. The army was saying there would be no forcible crackdown, the police were staying out of it,the reds were making concessions in their demands for dissolution and academics from the sidelines were urging the PM to seek a basis to start negotiations.

Then Abhisit rejected negotiations out of hand. Just at the moment when Thailand needed a statesman, Abhisit acted like a politician.

If there is an attempt to use force to clear the reds from the streets then the PM will be responsible for any deaths and injuries that result. The mood yesterday was for talks. It appears Abhisit does not wish to endthis impasse through peaceful means.

I have to wholeheartedly agree with your post! My feeling all along is that Abhisit was just paying the redshirts lip service in the hopes that they would disperse, sadly this is not what Thailand needs in a leader at the current time The whole "I will have elections in 9 months" mantra sounded a lot like "just give me 9 more months in power to make changes to the constitution so that me and my party can remain in power", and the red shirts saw right through that BS Now Abhisit has only two choices left, either act like a true statesman and resolve this situation with no further bloodshed and have new elctions ASAP, or else act like a dictator and send the army in for what will be a massive bloodbath and will likely result in a countrywide civil war, lets hope Abhisit is as smart as many here have made him out to be and he disolves parliment and holds elections by mid summer

[Totsagan]

Can all the red supporter who joined in 2006 Please learn to use quotes so people can actually follow. You joined in 2006 and kept your mouth shut for 4 years and all over sudden have too much to say

Hi Amigo

At first glance, I thought this post might have been referring to one of my posts, in which I screwed up the quotes. But you were categorizing the poster as a Red Shirt, so I knew it couldn't be me. I have opinions, but I'm not siding with any particular side.

That might hamper a visa renewal.

You know, I bet one of you old timers could help me out on how to do a partial quote and then post.

I did join in 2006, AND I did keep my mouth shut for 4 years. Now that I am posting, do you think I have too much to say because you disagree with me?

Anyway...let's be friends. Where's the best place to get a great pizza in BKK and in Khon Kaen?

If i understood correctly you had nothing to say when PAD occupied airport? you had nothing to say about the coup? nothing about money seizure or court ruling? you had nothing to say about anything for that matter, but now all over sudden you do.!!! Hmmm, why such a sudden need to express yourself? And this is not directed just at you, but another 4-6 members who all happen to join in 2006 and all had nothing to say till this moment.

and you consider that not taking sides?

Amigoooo

I had plenty of opinions during all those events. I had plenty to say, during my "visits" to Thailand during 1999 through 2005 about the events during that time. I had plenty to say about the extrajudical killings during the campaign against drugs. I had plenty to say during the 97 financial crisis, when I was going out to karoke bars with the people responsible for causing the crisis. I had plenty to say back in the eighties, dodging road blocks up in the country, between the commies, the refugees on the eastern borders, and small battles on the Lao border over the teak forests. I had plenty to say in the seventies, especially during 1976 riots, when protesters where being rounded up and taken to the crocidile farm. I had plenty to say when I was in TH during the early 70's when I was here saving the world from communism instead of finishing college (darn Nixon dropped the college deferments in 72). (Were you even born then?) I just never posted to all those events.

Now...I'm in a more "relaxed" status. I have time to post. I've seen a lot over the last 40 years. I just haven't found a good pizza joint since Pizza Hut pulled out of Thailand.

So, amigo....what about a place to find a good pizza?

I'm just saying.... that's all ... just a look at the facts...

[rayw]

Up until today it looked as though there was a small ray of hope in this sorry mess. The army was saying there would be no forcible crackdown, the police were staying out of it,the reds were making concessions in their demands for dissolution and academics from the sidelines were urging the PM to seek a basis to start negotiations.

Then Abhisit rejected negotiations out of hand. Just at the moment when Thailand needed a statesman, Abhisit acted like a politician.

If there is an attempt to use force to clear the reds from the streets then the PM will be responsible for any deaths and injuries that result. The mood yesterday was for talks. It appears Abhisit does not wish to endthis impasse through peaceful means.

What utter and biased nonsense. It was Abhist who offered the first peace talks which the Reds just threw out. Elections were offered a year early late this Autumn, any sooner would be nonsense and no time for it to be properly organised by all sides. Also some time to arrange for the U.N or other external unbiased body to monitor and police such a future election so it can be of no doubt a fair and just election of which the democratic outcome both sides would have to then honourably accept without further conflicts. I say this as totally unbiased as though I support Abhist in this conflict I am not against the Red Shirt non-Elitist people power political philosophy, just against that selfish greedy crook Thaksin and his band of bully boy nasty thugs doing his evil work. The Reds would do so much better and earn credibility if they dropped Thaksin and his thugs and between now and when elections are due later this year they may then have time to be able to find an honourable fair minded and capable leader to give them a chance of being elected in a proper democratic way.

Edited April 24, 2010 by rayw

[NCFC]

Then Abhisit rejected negotiations out of hand. Just at the moment when Thailand needed a statesman, Abhisit acted like a politician.

That is incorrect. Abhisit has not rejected negotiations. What he did was turn down the Reds latest ultimatum and gave his reasons for doing so.

... and as I mentioned above, why on earth should he negotiate between right and wrong? Why on earth are the red shirts so adamant about immediate dissolution versus in six months? What is their compelling arguement???

Because as soon as the democracy protestors have returned home, the elite would change the rules, just as the Burmese junta are currently doing in deciding who can and who cannot(Aung San Su Kyi ) take part in the forth-coming Burmese elections. The red shirts may be simple farming folk but they have lived under the thumb of the ruling elite for long enough and know what tricks they will get up to. They will remain on the streets until their democratic rights are upheld.

[Insight]

Then Abhisit rejected negotiations out of hand. Just at the moment when Thailand needed a statesman, Abhisit acted like a politician.

That is incorrect. Abhisit has not rejected negotiations. What he did was turn down the Reds latest ultimatum and gave his reasons for doing so.

... and as I mentioned above, why on earth should he negotiate between right and wrong? Why on earth are the red shirts so adamant about immediate dissolution versus in six months? What is their compelling arguement???

Because as soon as the democracy protestors have returned home, the elite would change the rules, just as the Burmese junta are currently doing in deciding who can and who cannot(Aung San Su Kyi ) take part in the forth-coming Burmese elections. The red shirts may be simple farming folk but they have lived under the thumb of the ruling elite for long enough and know what tricks they will get up to. They will remain on the streets until their democratic rights are upheld.

How pathetic and one-dimensional does this sound given recent events?

Looks like your clampdown still hasn't happened. Looking forward to your opinion this time tomorrow.

[elcent]

Because as soon as the democracy protestors have returned home, the elite would change the rules, just as the Burmese junta are currently doing in deciding who can and who cannot(Aung San Su Kyi ) take part in the forth-coming Burmese elections. The red shirts may be simple farming folk but they have lived under the thumb of the ruling elite for long enough and know what tricks they will get up to. They will remain on the streets until their democratic rights are upheld.

The reds had more credibility when they just flashed periodically in. This was when effects were very high and probably for a just case. But one man in Dubai has no care about a democratic - political development here. This why the reds have become a farce. Go and kneel before your master in Dubai. He owns you.

[termad]

Scary Headlines over in the UK:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/...Red-Shirts.html

Thailand is close to civil war as its British-born PM rejects deal with angry Red Shirts

Thailand is on the brink of civil war after Abhisit Vejjajiva, its British-born prime minister, rejected a deal with angry Red Shirt protesters.

On Friday, alarmed by the pace of events, Red Shirt leaders offered to end their occupation of Bangkok's central shopping district, normally awash with foreign tourists, in return for elections within the next three months.

But when Mr Abhisit, who knows he would probably lose such a poll, was asked if he accepted the protesters' proposal, he replied bluntly: "No, I don't."

His refusal to give ground spells an almost certain escalation of trouble. If the army does not move in to confront the red-shirted crowds, rival bands of yellow-shirted supporters of the government have threatened to take matters into their own hands... It was their protests that originally paved the way for Mr Abhisit's premiership. He had hoped to go down in history as the leader who healed Thailand's wounds. If his natural allies now fight with rival Red Shirts on Bangkok's streets, he may instead be remembered as the man in charge when Thailand descended into civil war.

meanwhile in the UK: Britain's richest see wealth rise by one third

Personally I'm amazed that Thaksin is still spending money on this mess. If he should return to Thailand under any circumstances he wouldn't live a week. Of course the red shirt leaders here in Thailand probably don't want him to return either, they want power for themselves.

I don't know that Thaksin is or needs to spend money on the mess (which is how you refer to the present situation) and I doubt if he wants to be PM again. I also doubt that most Redshirt Leaders and Phuea Thai MPs believe that he will be PM again. I don't know how long you have lived in Thailand but you seem to have been left behind by events. The present situation is all about Peasants (yes that's right, Peasants, fighting for their rights in the 21st century!) As to whom wants power or to hold onto power perhaps you should read Thai History from 2000 onwards.

[retdson]

Stop the madness, secure and control the city, and country now!!!

I'm not sure anyone can - that's the problem.

[valerian]

Just out of curiousity... did any1 here visit the protest site yesterday afternoon?

UDD claimed 40 diplomats would visit. Did they recieve any visits? Any information available on this?

[elcent]

Just out of curiousity... did any1 here visit the protest site yesterday afternoon?

UDD claimed 40 diplomats would visit. Did they recieve any visits? Any information available on this?

No, they delivered a letter to the UN and their imagination ran amok, as usual. They imagined that diplomatic corps were visiting them at the bamboo palace.

[VegasVic]

Typical post by a city dweller Those farmers in the countryside have been living off the land for hundreds of generations just fine, long before paved roads, cars, TV's and cellphones, and they can very easily live without Bangkok, but should food shipments from the countryside be totaly cuttoff to Bangkok (either willingly by the growers or by rebels turning back trucks and boats) then the residents of Bangkok will find out within a matter of weeks just who holds the ultimate power in Thailand

I didn't say just Bangkok.

You can't claim though that if half the country boycotts their produce, they won't be in trouble? Afterall they need to sell that to someone. They're not only farming for themselves now. And with extreme drought in the north and northeast especially, someone needs to pay for all that water pumps and water delivery from other parts of the country on top of the normal costs that they have every other season.

They need whatever they can get and even that's not enough for them to survive. Isn't this what they say the rallies are all about?

This year will be very hard for the farmers in the north. And all I said before was that something should be done to make their life easier. To help them help themselves, instead of hurting them furthermore with boycotts.

On your "who has the ultimate power" I don't agree completely. Yes, food prices would increase dramatically, as products would need to be imported from somewhere else. So as long as airports and ports remain open, the ones who would suffer the most would be the poor population, who are exactly those that support the reds.

So however you take a look at it, such an action would cause much more hardship on already stretched population, which surely doesn't deserve that.

I do wish to hear from you what you would do to improve lives of the poor? Or do you think they are well off already, as the post above reads?

My post was not calling for causing more misery to poor people but rather hoping for responses with ideas how to do quite the opposite.

As hard as it might be for some farmers in those isolated areas of potential drought, they will still have food to put on the table You see those farmers in the countryside know how to live off the land, they are only a generation away from the third world that many of them grew up in, so losing their Satelite TV's and cellphones and driving their cars and motorbikes less will not change their lives much, however a city like Bangkok that relies on over 80% of their foodstuffs from the countryside will be crippled As long as the airports remain open? We have seen how easy it was for your yellow shirt friends to close down the airport without firing a shot now didn't we, so just imagine how easy it would potentially be for some highly motivated citizens who were armed and fighting for the future of their country

Which brings me to previous post, responding to someone who said that Bangkok would have shopping malls etc. blown up with comment, that it would not only be Bangkok that gets targeted. After the mass exodus from the city the Pattani style scenes would very likely start happening also in the north, which would lead to an outright civil war with a huge loss of life, and possibly an end like the split of Korea.

But look, if you say that farmers are well off and can live well off their land, then there's no reason for them to be in Bangkok protesting about unfair wealth distribution.

It's just that I know several, some from before, some that I've met in front of my house next to their "red zone" that are not well off, and seriously need some help to improve their lives. We just disagree on how it should be done. They want someone to give them money now (well UDD already promised it), while I would like to see something done that would not only immediately improve their lives for a short time, but something sustainable, which would improve it permanently.

Why did you bring this crap about shutting supplies to Bangkok up in the first place? I don't understand what provoked it.

Tom, If Abhisit goes forward with a military style bloodbath to purge Bangkok of the red shirts, then the potential for civil war in Thailand grows by the day I merely brought up the obvious fact that the city of Bangkok relies on their food ( and for that matter their water supply) from those same folks in the countryside, and that in the end if the situation does turn to civil war the farmers hold the ultimate trump card It's not a pretty situation, hopefully Abhisit will eventually realize this and disolve parliment and call for immdeiate elections BTW I never said that the farmers are well off, I just stated a fact that they are only a generation away from the third world circumstances that many of them grew up in, so if things do get ugly they will know how to survive much better than the citizens of Bangkok! Haven't you ever heard the old addage "don't bite the hand that feeds you" it sure seems apprapot in this situation

[elcent]

Tom, If Abhisit goes forward with a military style bloodbath to purge Bangkok of the red shirts, then the potential for civil war in Thailand grows by the day I merely brought up the obvious fact that the city of Bangkok relies on their food ( and for that matter their water supply) from those same folks in the countryside, and that in the end if the situation does turn to civil war the farmers hold the ultimate trump card It's not a pretty situation, hopefully Abhisit will eventually realize this and disolve parliment and call for immdeiate elections BTW I never said that the farmers are well off, I just stated a fact that they are only a generation away from the third world circumstances that many of them grew up in, so if things do get ugly they will know how to survive much better than the citizens of Bangkok! Haven't you ever heard the old addage "don't bite the hand that feeds you" it sure seems apprapot in this situation

nah, halal food is not bad either.

Nothing will happen when they remove the head from the body. They're not going after common folks. They (common folks) will be blessed without those thugs.

[elcent]

Just out of curiousity... did any1 here visit the protest site yesterday afternoon?

UDD claimed 40 diplomats would visit. Did they recieve any visits? Any information available on this?

No, they delivered a letter to the UN and their imagination ran amok, as usual. They imagined that diplomatic corps were visiting them at the bamboo palace.

I saw 2 guys in suits talking to them. No idea who they were. Saw it on TNN I think... or ThaiPBS. Not sure anymore. There could have been more but camera didn't show them. One was in his late 40's and one in late 20's early 30's from their look. They looked caucasian, hard to tell where from. Maybe northern Europe, Australia or US.

you need to learn how things work here. This was likely a staged stunt, nothing else.

[kuffki]

It is pretty funny how Red shirt leaders went to UN to ask for protection, but who is going to protect BKK and its people from the Red shirts?

[valerian]

Just out of curiousity... did any1 here visit the protest site yesterday afternoon?

UDD claimed 40 diplomats would visit. Did they recieve any visits? Any information available on this?

No, they delivered a letter to the UN and their imagination ran amok, as usual. They imagined that diplomatic corps were visiting them at the bamboo palace.

I saw 2 guys in suits talking to them. No idea who they were. Saw it on TNN I think... or ThaiPBS. Not sure anymore. There could have been more but camera didn't show them. One was in his late 40's and one in late 20's early 30's from their look. They looked caucasian, hard to tell where from. Maybe northern Europe, Australia or US.

you need to learn how things work here. This was likely a staged stunt, nothing else.

Thats what I thought aswell.. only wanted to know if it could be verified that they didn't recieve any visits (as I had suspected).