Thai Protesters Brace For Crackdown As Compromise Rejected

[hammered]

Remember it is only the reds saying so far that the military will clear them. That will help to boost numbers

All we know from the government is about the 9AM announcement

[chadintheusa]

Quiz: Who said the following in a speech

There has been too much violence, too much pain.

None here are without sin.

But I have an honorable compromise.

Just walk away.

and I'll spare your lives.

Just walk away. I will give you safe passage

Just walk away and there will be an end to the horror.

a.) Jatuporn

b.) General Anupong

c.) PM Abhisit

d.) Nattawud

e.) The Lord Humungus

Edited April 24, 2010 by chadintheusa

[asiancup2007]

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

I suppose everybody is entitled to their opinion

not according to the red shirts.

They'd know having had their websites and TV channels censored

[Jimi007]

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

Ah, that would be Thaksin you are talking about! I agree!

[tonyPhuket]

"Abhisit has shut the door on all Thai people by rejecting our compromise," he said. "He will do anything to keep his position as prime minister."

Do you mean "all Thai people" are red shirts only?

Is the mass of the pro-government protestors being ignored?

Don't forget, Red Shirts must accept the fact that the cause of the life losses and injured due to the result of Red shirts's first reject to PM Abhisit's offer.

Pack things and GO HOME NOW to prevent the consequence of the embarassment. I am sure nobody wants to see further life losses.

[bangkokrick]

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

You must be drunk, it is the brave and right thing to do. One can not give in to mob rule at any time more so when it is very small minority the comprises the mob. You need a few lessons in common sense.

The mob, as you call it has become as such, because of the "stubborn and illegitimate" PM that sits behind armed guards and closed doors; a british-indoctrinated-pylon. One who is so puffed-up with himself that he believes that he can rule without the consent of the populace. I for one join in with the protesters, all the power to them. Anyone who seems to be against them, it is primarily because he/she is afraid that his/her little world will burst like a bubble; loss of money being a factor as well. YOU need to realize that many people around the world are tired of despotic/socialistic/satanic-capitalistic dogs of war and oppression are leading the way. That is coming to an end, one way or another.

Abhisit was legally elected under Thai law, so why should he dissolve the house just to please a minority of the population. The Reds are mercenaries and this is nothing to do with democracy, but all to do with Thaksin.

Cheers, Rick

[Farangdong]

What I fail to understand, how is the government allowing this protest site to continue. Cut off all power, water, jam all communications. Make it dry up...

Now some might say....what about the residents.....well if you have ever been in a war zone, do not expect to continue with a normal life.

These kinds of measures would quickly disperse all but the rotten core group.

Some will argue...but they will just bring in generators.....gee, a single 50 cal bullet from a sniper ends that generator, (non violently again).

As small groups try to move to other parts of the city, arrest them...

As for the compromise.....I have posted before this question "What is the urgent need for elections NOW, and not waiting until when the constitution mandates elections??"

In the USA the current president and the former president had large groups that really despised them. Yet there was never a call in that seasoned democracy for elections NOW, instead of when the Constitution mandated them.

I am more than a little disappointed the current Thai government is letting this grow.

I completely agree with you.

[jope]

If I was a Redshirt and I read some of the hate posts by certain individuals here, I'd think very lowly of Farangs in Thailand.

And indeed, the majority of Thais that I know would be shocked at the blind support of many posters on this forum for the intimidation and violence that has been meeted out by the reds over the last month and more. Many Thais beleive Westerners come from civilised countries where people don't lay siege to the heart of the capital, fire grenades at commuters, bomb banks in the middle of the night, lay explosive charges under electricity pylons, poor their own blood on the private residences of politicians that they disagree with, kidnap EC officials, stab soldiers with bamboo poles in order to break into an installation guarded by the security forces...the list is longer, but I hope I've made my point.

I guess that's the price dictators have to pay! Free elections will stop that immediately!!

Right, so, quite aside from your overlooking the fact that 'dictatorship' doesn't apply to a government that is committed to holding elections within the time frame stipulated by the constitution as this one is...

...lets assume we're talking about a real dictatorship - N.Korea, Burma, Mugabe - your view is that firing grenades at commuters is an acceptable way to protest, is it?

Interesting that you emphasize the violence and not the solution (free elections; although I can under respective circumstances as in N.Korea or Birma agree to 'no violence is no solution).

[andrewbkk]

It's hard to negotiate with terrorists.

Bravo.

Never negotiate with terrorists.

Fight terror with terror.

The British army tried that in Northern Ireland and failed. The apartheid regime tried it in South Africa and failed. The French tried that in Algeria and failed. It doesn't work my friend.

How about Ronald Reagan and Colonel Gadaffi?

Please excuse my spelling, btw, the Chang is going down beautfully tonight.

[animatic]

Oh well, thank you to the Reds and Thaksin for destroying Thailand.

Abhisit will go down as the most educated Thai Prime Minister who (as often is the case with intelligent people) had no common sense whatsoever. He has already lost so why not just go for a good old British compromise where noone loses face. Where the buffalo smiley when you need it?

Main issue is not his arrogance, not his intelligence, nor even his common sense....

they just expected him to act like a Thai, and he DIDN'T!]

Must have been quite confusing for many of them....

He acted like a national leader would be expected to act most anywhere else.

And there is the problem, he's really Thai, but his education bred much of the

raw roots out of him and replaced it with a proper international perspective.

Which of course is rather confusing to many, if not all, Thais.

Farang BAA!

Edited April 24, 2010 by animatic

[canuckamuck]

I expect a coup within a month

[brd]

1st time in long time we see united the Royal Family, a Governement, a Police, the Thai Armies and Bangkokian lately joining in.

1st time we see a PM not self centered uniquely, neither playing golf, nor enriching himself, spending most of his time running his job even better without being on all the medias.

The reds have become terrorists, not a proper government's opposition as they shout loudly continuoulsy they are, every Democracies have present.

What can bamboos, tyres and broken stones do facing tanks and an attacking Army of professional under orders to GO

without restrictions to use as earlier on by respect to the reds revendications rubber bullets, water cannons and pepper guns.

What can do 0.009% of the population facing an Army and the Thai population.

All Thailand has heard the rural presence not only due to ex PM a fugitive Thaksin own manipulations owever right now himself better he stays away the chaos main instigator.

Pity a crakdwon seems to be written down as the Army cordons around their neck seems tightening.

Launching grenades to hurt by killing civilians at random is an horrible act of terrorism from Thai to Thai that is unacceptable.

It is sad to witness some whom they call the blacks security but terrorists mixing with reds in complicity themselves with them using women and children to shield themselves.

Thailand does deserve better than the past two years of turmoil.

We love Thai Land and if Buddhism primes please do show us not Buddhist Monks with sharpen bamboos in their hands being standing up part of the reds but a middle way with peace.

[Insight]

Remember it is only the reds saying so far that the military will clear them. That will help to boost numbers

All we know from the government is about the 9AM announcement

My thoughts exactly. And any action now could very possibly tar any revelations in Abhisit's TV appearance with Anupong tomorrow morning.

But then it's not in the military's interests to announce movements in advance. Well not in other countries anyway...

[dobadoy]

But if an army attacks its own people the people have the right to retaliate with everything they have.

Subtstitute 'army' with 'red shirts' in your above statement (Sala Daeng grenade), then you have just argued for the right to have the red shirts put down in the most foreceable way possible (which is not somethign I'm advocating, but your logic sucks).

Edited April 24, 2010 by dobadoy

[kentucky]

Oh well, thank you to the Reds and Thaksin for destroying Thailand.

Abhisit will go down as the most educated Thai Prime Minister who

So what would you have him do.....give in to these thugs

This situation could be resolved by negotiating and compromise on all sides, the Reds have offered a compromise

The reds offered a "compromise" of 15 days (dissolve in 30 days versus dissolve in 15 days)... weeks after they flat out refused an initial Abhisit compromise of 365 days (or thereabouts).

The reds are not negotiating. They're blowing smoke.

There's not a butcher alive in the wet market that would make an agreement with their type of dealing.

Edited April 24, 2010 by kentucky

[Indo-Siam]

Art 9:45 pm Friday night I was walking back home to On-Nut from Emporium, on the south side of Sukhumvit. Just before I got to the point opposite Major Ekkamai, I saw a very strange event. At a point where there is a very wide entranceway (almost like a large parking lot) into some sort of government property (with a large arch overhead, with Thai lettering), I saw what I believe was a military rehearsal drill. There were about fifty motorcycles - each carrying two military policeman. I say that because they wore blue military uniforms, with green camouflage flak vests, and blue or black shiny lacquer helmets, with a thick horizontal white band painted around the base - and black lettering - some sort of Thai abbreviation. I'm guessing that they were air force police. Anyway, they were practicing - two men to each motorcycle, with the man riding pillion carrying two weapons - one M-16, and one shotgun (obviously, the guys in back were carrying the weapon of the driver). I think I got there at the end - they were just pulling out onto Sukhumvit, headed toward Thonglor, in a formation of motorcycles, two abreast, in the curb lane. I think there were two commanders - who were dressed slightly differently, each on his own motorcycle - which were larger than the the two-man bikes - and these two had just sidearm pistols. They stayed behind a minute when the rest moved out - and one of them smiled to me as I walked past, right next to him.

I've been an Infantry company commander - and I could sense that they were not going into a fight that night - but I think the were doing a full-dress rehearsal.

So - when the action unfolds (tonight?) to deal with the protesters, I predict it will lead off with platoons of military police on motorcycles moving in very fast, around the Red Shirt barricades (on the sidewalk?), to penetrate deep, very quickly. To me, that means a "snatch" mission - they will go straight to capture the leadership, without having to hurt any innocent people.

I also predict that 60 seconds before the motorcycle cavalry reaches the Red front lines, some advance scouts will "take out" the Red guards near the barricades. Thus allowing a "surgical" strike against the Red command group.

Good plan.

[ETatBKK]

This is not our ( Farangs ) problem, to spout such hatred towards either group could have severe repercussions.

I can agree that expressing hate towards either group is pointless and counter productive but to say it's not our problem is spoken like a person with little to nothing invested in this country

AGREE with you, and you are not alone ! I am here and somehow it will a part of my problem too ! I do not prepare to buy a ticket and fly away !

[jayboy]

Oh well, thank you to the Reds and Thaksin for destroying Thailand.

Abhisit will go down as the most educated Thai Prime Minister who (as often is the case with intelligent people) had no common sense whatsoever. He has already lost so why not just go for a good old British compromise where noone loses face. Where the buffalo smiley when you need it?

Main issue is not his arrogance, not his intelligence, nor even his common sense....

they just expected him to act like a Thai, and he DIDN'T!]

Must have been quite confusing for many of them....

He acted like a national leader would be expected to act most anywhere else.

And there is the problem he's Thai but his education breed much of the raw roots out of him.

Animatic, reach for the smelling salts.I fully agree with you.

[RussellHantz]

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

I have to say that if I had worked hard all my life and attained the position of Prime Minister I wouldn't be so eager to bow down

Well, if Abhisits political career is not already in tatters, it is now. His smug defiance isn't earning him any new friends, thats for sure.

Here is how I would describe Abhisit as PM:

Weak

Stubborn

Irresponsible

Arrogant

Smug

Used

Un-Entitled

[ukrules]

I wonder what would be done if this demonstration happened in the London, New York or any other major western countries financial districts.

I do know for sure that there would be violence and the police would go in mob handed with gas, water, tazers and large wooden clubs beating anyone who dares to defy their orders to comply.

I guess in the end it all comes down to how much the demonstrators believe in their cause.

I think these demonstrators do truly believe in their cause so I think it's inevitable that there will be large scale trouble.

[midas]

It's hard to negotiate with terrorists.

Bravo.

Never negotiate with terrorists.

Fight terror with terror.

Just like how Aung San Su Kyi and her followers never negotiated with the Junta!!

Aung San Su Kyi and the Thai red shirts. No comparison. She has moral credibility by the boatload. The reds have none.

As in Myanmar there are 1,000 monks giving moral support. I hope you dont suggest they have no credibility

and I dread to think what will happen if large numbers of monks are slaughtered in Abhist's name

[enz13]

aw please the red shirts are fully to blame for this farce,abhsit if anything has been badly let down by the so called army and police and in retrospect has been too lenient,as for the threats of blending in to cause trouble,im sorry thats an action of cowards,well at least there showing there true colours.a fight for democracy my @rse,its was an attempted coup and its failed,as for thaksin he should be hanging his head in shame,for the disgrace he has brought on thailand to save face and his money.

[Tanaka]

It's hard to negotiate with terrorists.

Bravo.

Never negotiate with terrorists.

Fight terror with terror.

The British army tried that in Northern Ireland and failed. The apartheid regime tried it in South Africa and failed. The French tried that in Algeria and failed. It doesn't work my friend.

And your silly examples do not have any bearing on what is happening here now. I realize you do not understand that as you obviously have no knowledge about the situations now and before in the countries you mentioned.

[george]

Update:

AFP: Myanmar opposition leader Suu Kyi says Thailand's political crisis shows that constitution drawn up by military can never deliver stability

[dobadoy]

Art 9:45 pm Friday night I was walking back home to On-Nut from Emporium, on the south side of Sukhumvit. Just before I got to the point opposite Major Ekkamai, I saw a very strange event. At a point where there is a very wide entranceway (almost like a large parking lot) into some sort of government property (with a large arch overhead, with Thai lettering), I saw what I believe was a military rehearsal drill. There were about fifty motorcycles - each carrying two military policeman. I say that because they wore blue military uniforms, with green camouflage flak vests, and blue or black shiny lacquer helmets, with a thick horizontal white band painted around the base - and black lettering - some sort of Thai abbreviation. I'm guessing that they were air force police. Anyway, they were practicing - two men to each motorcycle, with the man riding pillion carrying two weapons - one M-16, and one shotgun (obviously, the guys in back were carrying the weapon of the driver). I think I got there at the end - they were just pulling out onto Sukhumvit, headed toward Thonglor, in a formation of motorcycles, two abreast, in the curb lane. I think there were two commanders - who were dressed slightly differently, each on his own motorcycle - which were larger than the the two-man bikes - and these two had just sidearm pistols. They stayed behind a minute when the rest moved out - and one of them smiled to me as I walked past, right next to him.

I've been an Infantry company commander - and I could sense that they were not going into a fight that night - but I think the were doing a full-dress rehearsal.

So - when the action unfolds (tonight?) to deal with the protesters, I predict it will lead off with platoons of military police on motorcycles moving in very fast, around the Red Shirt barricades (on the sidewalk?), to penetrate deep, very quickly. To me, that means a "snatch" mission - they will go straight to capture the leadership, without having to hurt any innocent people.

I also predict that 60 seconds before the motorcycle cavalry reaches the Red front lines, some advance scouts will "take out" the Red guards near the barricades. Thus allowing a "surgical" strike against the Red command group.

Good plan.

I've never been in the army, but your strategy sounds like suicide to me. What could be easier than taking out a bunch of densely packed motorcyle riders by a couple of guys hiding in shop doorways firing M16s on full automatic?

Get real.

Edited April 24, 2010 by dobadoy

[Totsagan]

Oh well, thank you to the Reds and Thaksin for destroying Thailand.

Why are the Reds destroying Thailand???? Thailand is more than just Bangkok. Since when can't people travel to their capitol to petition a complaint? That practice is centuries old.

Two years ago the Yellow Shirts did a pretty good job of shutting down Bangkok, also.

Heck, if I had a business in downtown BKK, I'd be peeved also, but obviously there's a (class) problem in the country since this divisiveness has been going on for ten years.

People in the provinces keeping electing officials and people in Bangkok keep throwing them out of office.

Taksin, ethics not withstanding, had done more for the rural people in 4 years than any other entity has done in sixty years - healthcare, roads, education, electricity, subsidizing loans so that almost every farmer owned a brand new pick-up, etc.

I've been coming to Thailand since 1974, and the changes between 2000 and 2005 were dramatic.

Of course there are claims the Red Shirts are paid to go to BKK and stand in the street. But it goes a little deeper. Rural people are sick and tired of being told to go back to their farms, till their fields, and keep their mouths shut.

You must remember that the people in the rural provinces were so alienated, that there were still strong communist movements throughout the north and northeast until the early 80's (most national parks are former communist strongholds).

With the possible exception of Abhisit, corruption is generally a part of every administration, every entitiy. Taksin was certainly no angel (national campaign against drugs) and the guy just doesn't get it that at this point he's old product. Taksin is a ralllying point for the Reds. If there are new elections, the Reds will win, the Yellows with find a way to dispose of the new administration. The circle continues, like groundhog day.

The elite in BKK can't continue to ignore the provinces (the ethnic Isaan speaking population is larger than the central Thailand.

Almost everyone is afraid to sit down and get to what many percieve to be the core of the problem, because they can be thrown in jail for discussing it.

But hey, what do I know....

[whiterussian]

Crikey, the yellows on here are p i s s e d !!!

The only way is a seige, or lots of people may die...

then, in the next election... we will see who kicks who's butt!

[freedom4life]

One who is so puffed-up with himself that he believes that he can rule without the consent of the populace.

Simply repeating untruths over and over again does not turn them into truths. The valid mandate of the current government has been explained in suitably simple terms on many occasions.

However, your description does ring a bell. Someone so puffed up with himself he believed he could rule without the consent of the populace, or at least who believed that it was so obvious he should rule that he perverted all the checks and balances of democratic institutions to ensure he could continue to rule.

Valid?..what makes that mandate valid? Abhisit's government is illegitimate because it came to power under military pressure through a parliamentary vote after disputed court rulings ousted two elected pro-Thaksin governments. At the very least, this is undemocratic and this is indeed unacceptable by not just one or two natives of Thailand, but thousands.

[asiancup2007]

But if an army attacks its own people the people have the right to retaliate with everything they have.

Subtstitute 'army' with 'red shirts' in your above statement (Sala Daeng grenade), then you have just argued for the right to have the red shirts put down in the most foreceable way possible (which is not somethign I'm advocating, but your logic sucks).

Re the grenade attack I have an open mind as to who fired it and from where. The Government

say they have proof the Red shirts fired it from Lumpini park captured on BTS cctv. That being the case

don't they have an obligation to release said video.

[freedom4life]

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

I have to say that if I had worked hard all my life and attained the position of Prime Minister I wouldn't be so eager to bow down

Well, if Abhisits political career is not already in tatters, it is now. His smug defiance isn't earning him any new friends, thats for sure.

Here is how I would describe Abhisit as PM:

Weak

Stubborn

Irresponsible

Arrogant

Smug

Used

Un-Entitled

Excellent.