PM Ahbisit - Has The Government Lost Control

[gymboy33]

Now the reds have blockaded Khon Kaen airport too. Looking for a multicoloured leader.

It seems you are only allowed to protest if you are a red supporter.

RED DEMOCRACY AT WORK.

So now that want to alienate the people of the single region that offers them even 50% support. I don't think Abhisit needs to do anything to defeat this brain trust. Just give'em a little more rope...

i think khon kaen offers them a lot more then 50%!! its a red shirt heart land

That still doesn't give them the right to stop people gathering.

av/goverment tried to stop the reds gathering/protesting at their original site on april 10th,,and look what that caused!!!

[brahmburgers]

Yeah - I would like to hear Levelhead, Mazeltov, or any of the other "Pro-reds" explain why it is ok for these red gangs to go out "looking" for people, with an obviously violent or ill-intentioned agenda? Is that what you are so strongly advocating? Red Justice? This is the main reason the Reds will lose. They will keep going and going until they eventually hang themselves.

That were fake reds....in fact yellow/army facist abhisit followers who wanted to discredit the peaceful reds....will be their answer.

Since the beginning, everything that brought bad press was later "fake reds".....

At first I thought you were writing that as a statement of what you believe. Upon re-reading it I see it's said in jest. Even so, it's worth emphasizing: Everything the Reds do (including harboring black shirts with military weapons) is either denied or attributed to Yellows dressing as Reds, or some other soggy excuse.

[whybother]

That still doesn't give them the right to stop people gathering.

av/goverment tried to stop the reds gathering/protesting at their original site on april 10th,,and look what that caused!!!

They didn't try and stop them. They got there just fine. A few road blockes to search for weapons. A lot of good that did though.

So this Khon Kaen incident is Double Standards. Reds are allowed to protest, but no one else is.

RED DEMOCRACY AT WORK.

[gymboy33]

Yeah - I would like to hear Levelhead, Mazeltov, or any of the other "Pro-reds" explain why it is ok for these red gangs to go out "looking" for people, with an obviously violent or ill-intentioned agenda? Is that what you are so strongly advocating? Red Justice? This is the main reason the Reds will lose. They will keep going and going until they eventually hang themselves.

That were fake reds....in fact yellow/army facist abhisit followers who wanted to discredit the peaceful reds....will be their answer.

Since the beginning, everything that brought bad press was later "fake reds".....

At first I thought you were writing that as a statement of what you believe. Upon re-reading it I see it's said in jest. Even so, it's worth emphasizing: Everything the Reds do (including harboring black shirts with military weapons) is either denied or attributed to Yellows dressing as Reds, or some other soggy excuse.

and what about the av/goverment spin on the april 10th bloodbath,,,25 deaths and 800 injuries,,according to av/goverment and their lackeys they were all caused by the blackshirts

[whybother]

and what about the av/goverment spin on the april 10th bloodbath,,,25 deaths and 800 injuries,,according to av/goverment and their lackeys they were all caused by the blackshirts

No one has said that ALL the deaths and injuries were caused by the black shirts.

[robertson468]

If Abhisit hadn't been so intent on maintaining peace in lieu of so many threats, then the skies over Thailand would be darker with the smoke of cremations. His self-control is a world away from the taunting irresponsibility of the Reds. They should be sorely grateful for such a cool headed adversary.

Self-control, or out of control?

Abhisit tried using force on April 10th. He failed, and his subsequent efforts to get the army and police to take decisive action have also failed. The fact that Abhsit's efforts to use force have been executed on the ground so half-heartedly is clearly through lack of control, and has nothing to do with self-control. His own army and police chiefs make no secret of publicly opposing his efforts to use force, and he lacks the clout to replace them.

Instead of making one empty threat after another, Abhisit should call elections, get elected and then use his mandate to restore order. But would the Thai electorate give him the mandate that he so desperately needs to beat the reds peacefully? What is he afraid of?

Sir, you are naive on two accounts, but before qualifying that, I notice you do not qualify how you would gain control of the situation. It is one thing to be an "an armchair leader" and quite another to actually be in the hot seat. Instead of espousing unproven theories, it would be more interesting and constructive to hear your operational plan? Now for your naivities: Despite your declaration that the Army is not on the Government's side, the Head of the Army has agreed to take over the operational command and planning of the situation, not withstanding he will clear these plans with the PM before they are executed. In Thailand, regardless of who the elected PM is, if he does not have the Armed Forces on his side he is a "toothless tiger" when it comes to this sort of situation. Ask the late Samak and Somchai, who ordered the Army to take action against the Yellow Shirts who replied "not us Guv this is a political problem". Westerners may not understand it, or agree with it, but this is Thailand and their way of life - if you don't like it, I am sure there are many other Countries in which you could be politically more comfortable and perhaps might agree with you psychology.

I believe and it is only my personal thoughts, that the Army and PM are playing a containment and waiting game. Contain the demonstrators and they will become bored with inactivity, which will demoralise them and ultimately many will begin to disperse, as we have already heard. There will of course be a hard-core element left, but one suspects there will probably be an element of disunity amongst the leadership, as their options to be effective are considerably reduced and will be much easier to arrest/disperse when the time comes. The objective of their plan is to achieve the dispersal goal and reclaim the land, with the minimum loss of human life therefore not alienating themselves from the greater Thai public.

It was also this present Government who persuaded other elements not to demonstrate against the Red Shirts as it would only dangerously escalate the probability of Thai against Thai.

[Redsunset]

If Abhisit hadn't been so intent on maintaining peace in lieu of so many threats, then the skies over Thailand would be darker with the smoke of cremations. His self-control is a world away from the taunting irresponsibility of the Reds. They should be sorely grateful for such a cool headed adversary.

Self-control, or out of control?

Abhisit tried using force on April 10th. He failed, and his subsequent efforts to get the army and police to take decisive action have also failed. The fact that Abhsit's efforts to use force have been executed on the ground so half-heartedly is clearly through lack of control, and has nothing to do with self-control. His own army and police chiefs make no secret of publicly opposing his efforts to use force, and he lacks the clout to replace them.

Instead of making one empty threat after another, Abhisit should call elections, get elected and then use his mandate to restore order. But would the Thai electorate give him the mandate that he so desperately needs to beat the reds peacefully? What is he afraid of?

Sir, you are naive on two accounts, but before qualifying that, I notice you do not qualify how you would gain control of the situation. It is one thing to be an "an armchair leader" and quite another to actually be in the hot seat. Instead of espousing unproven theories, it would be more interesting and constructive to hear your operational plan? Now for your naivities: Despite your declaration that the Army is not on the Government's side, the Head of the Army has agreed to take over the operational command and planning of the situation, not withstanding he will clear these plans with the PM before they are executed. In Thailand, regardless of who the elected PM is, if he does not have the Armed Forces on his side he is a "toothless tiger" when it comes to this sort of situation. Ask the late Samak and Somchai, who ordered the Army to take action against the Yellow Shirts who replied "not us Guv this is a political problem". Westerners may not understand it, or agree with it, but this is Thailand and their way of life - if you don't like it, I am sure there are many other Countries in which you could be politically more comfortable and perhaps might agree with you psychology.

I believe and it is only my personal thoughts, that the Army and PM are playing a containment and waiting game. Contain the demonstrators and they will become bored with inactivity, which will demoralise them and ultimately many will begin to disperse, as we have already heard. There will of course be a hard-core element left, but one suspects there will probably be an element of disunity amongst the leadership, as their options to be effective are considerably reduced and will be much easier to arrest/disperse when the time comes. The objective of their plan is to achieve the dispersal goal and reclaim the land, with the minimum loss of human life therefore not alienating themselves from the greater Thai public.

It was also this present Government who persuaded other elements not to demonstrate against the Red Shirts as it would only dangerously escalate the probability of Thai against Thai.

Haha, so.... the Prime Minister says he will do what it takes to bring about normalcy and the army interprets that to "play the waiting game?" Make sense? I THINK NOT!!!! Even in Backgammon you have to take your turn within a reasonable amount of time!

[brahmburgers]

Man from Phichit asks Democrat to help send him, 24 friends home

BANGKOK: -- A man from Phichit went to the Democrat Party head office Friday and asked the party to help send him and 24 friends back home.

Kirkkiart Kulthonbodi came to the Democrat head office at 4 pm.

He said he joined the rally on Tuesday and was told he would be paid Bt200 or Bt300 a day. He said he has not received any money so he and 24 friends decided to go home but they did not have money. The man said 18 of 25 men from Phichit had their ID cards seized by some rally organisers. Kirkkiart said he will have to return to the rally site to sign his name at 6 pm before sneaking out again. Democrat MP from Phichit, Naraphat Kaewthong, took the man's phone number for contacting him later.

-- The Nation 2010-04-30

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

I find it perturbing that the man's real name is published. Doesn't the Nation know that will endanger the man and his friends from Phichit? The above report tells what many of us on T.Visa have been asserting for weeks. Of course Red supporters have always denied it, and will continue to twist and turn to deny it, but the evidence keeps piling up: That many protesters are promised payment to attend (and not paid), mock protesters are not allowed to leave, and that their ID cards are confiscated in order to make it near impossible for them to leave.

I believe and it is only my personal thoughts, that the Army and PM are playing a containment and waiting game. Contain the demonstrators and they will become bored with inactivity, which will demoralise them and ultimately many will begin to disperse, as we have already heard. There will of course be a hard-core element left, but one suspects there will probably be an element of disunity amongst the leadership, as their options to be effective are considerably reduced and will be much easier to arrest/disperse when the time comes. The objective of their plan is to achieve the dispersal goal and reclaim the land, with the minimum loss of human life therefore not alienating themselves from the greater Thai public.

Haha, so.... the Prime Minister says he will do what it takes to bring about normalcy and the army interprets that to "play the waiting game?" Make sense? I THINK NOT!!!! Even in Backgammon you have to take your turn within a reasonable amount of time!

It's not a board game, and it's looking like Abhisit and his Generals are doing the smart thing. Each of the past few days, the Reds have done at least one thing which shows them in their true light (storming a hospital, etc), and lessening their already sagging appeal to the Thai public. ...give 'em enough rope, and......

[kimincm]

If Abhisit hadn't been so intent on maintaining peace in lieu of so many threats, then the skies over Thailand would be darker with the smoke of cremations. His self-control is a world away from the taunting irresponsibility of the Reds. They should be sorely grateful for such a cool headed adversary.

Self-control, or out of control?

Abhisit tried using force on April 10th. He failed, and his subsequent efforts to get the army and police to take decisive action have also failed. The fact that Abhsit's efforts to use force have been executed on the ground so half-heartedly is clearly through lack of control, and has nothing to do with self-control. His own army and police chiefs make no secret of publicly opposing his efforts to use force, and he lacks the clout to replace them.

Instead of making one empty threat after another, Abhisit should call elections, get elected and then use his mandate to restore order. But would the Thai electorate give him the mandate that he so desperately needs to beat the reds peacefully? What is he afraid of?

Sir, you are naive on two accounts, but before qualifying that, I notice you do not qualify how you would gain control of the situation. It is one thing to be an "an armchair leader" and quite another to actually be in the hot seat. Instead of espousing unproven theories, it would be more interesting and constructive to hear your operational plan? Now for your naivities: Despite your declaration that the Army is not on the Government's side, the Head of the Army has agreed to take over the operational command and planning of the situation, not withstanding he will clear these plans with the PM before they are executed. In Thailand, regardless of who the elected PM is, if he does not have the Armed Forces on his side he is a "toothless tiger" when it comes to this sort of situation. Ask the late Samak and Somchai, who ordered the Army to take action against the Yellow Shirts who replied "not us Guv this is a political problem". Westerners may not understand it, or agree with it, but this is Thailand and their way of life - if you don't like it, I am sure there are many other Countries in which you could be politically more comfortable and perhaps might agree with you psychology.

I believe and it is only my personal thoughts, that the Army and PM are playing a containment and waiting game. Contain the demonstrators and they will become bored with inactivity, which will demoralise them and ultimately many will begin to disperse, as we have already heard. There will of course be a hard-core element left, but one suspects there will probably be an element of disunity amongst the leadership, as their options to be effective are considerably reduced and will be much easier to arrest/disperse when the time comes. The objective of their plan is to achieve the dispersal goal and reclaim the land, with the minimum loss of human life therefore not alienating themselves from the greater Thai public.

It was also this present Government who persuaded other elements not to demonstrate against the Red Shirts as it would only dangerously escalate the probability of Thai against Thai.

Nice call,wait long enough and the Red leaders will stop shooting themselves in the foot and shoot themselves in the head,why do you think the Government is sitting on it's hands,the Red's are in self destruct mode,why do you think Abhisit sit's and waits,internationally I think he's going to come out smelling like a rose.Just keep f*cken up Red boys you are your own worst enemy.

[SomTumTiger]

I would not credit the Abhisit government for the "Wait and let them hang themselves" strategy. That situation was brought about by the lack of agreement among the government, military, and police. However, it IS the right strategy, and will destroy the red movement in the end. If people actually start to listen to Jatuporn, maybe they will start to understand that "Hey, this guy really IS an idiot!"

[brahmburgers]

What's next for rogue Reds? Storming a school? .....a pet store?

They move their barricades to allow a bit of egress to the hospital, then a couple hours later, Loose Cannon #1 Seh Daeng orders them to replace the barricades.

Well, at least the black shirts among them, the ones totting around guns and ammo, are looking over their shoulders a bit more now. They must know that gov't snipers have a bead on them (have 'em in their sights) at least some of the time. Paranoia fueled by testosterone and Red Bull, and MSG and alcohol make for a jittery person who can't sleep at night, and sees ghosts in every shadow. Serves 'em right. They're breaking the law and must know the odds are better than 50/50 their butts will be in jail b4 2 long.

[iforget]

If Abhisit hadn't been so intent on maintaining peace in lieu of so many threats, then the skies over Thailand would be darker with the smoke of cremations. His self-control is a world away from the taunting irresponsibility of the Reds. They should be sorely grateful for such a cool headed adversary.

Self-control, or out of control?

Abhisit tried using force on April 10th. He failed, and his subsequent efforts to get the army and police to take decisive action have also failed. The fact that Abhsit's efforts to use force have been executed on the ground so half-heartedly is clearly through lack of control, and has nothing to do with self-control. His own army and police chiefs make no secret of publicly opposing his efforts to use force, and he lacks the clout to replace them.

Instead of making one empty threat after another, Abhisit should call elections, get elected and then use his mandate to restore order. But would the Thai electorate give him the mandate that he so desperately needs to beat the reds peacefully? What is he afraid of?

Sir, you are naive on two accounts, but before qualifying that, I notice you do not qualify how you would gain control of the situation. It is one thing to be an "an armchair leader" and quite another to actually be in the hot seat. Instead of espousing unproven theories, it would be more interesting and constructive to hear your operational plan? Now for your naivities: Despite your declaration that the Army is not on the Government's side, the Head of the Army has agreed to take over the operational command and planning of the situation, not withstanding he will clear these plans with the PM before they are executed. In Thailand, regardless of who the elected PM is, if he does not have the Armed Forces on his side he is a "toothless tiger" when it comes to this sort of situation. Ask the late Samak and Somchai, who ordered the Army to take action against the Yellow Shirts who replied "not us Guv this is a political problem". Westerners may not understand it, or agree with it, but this is Thailand and their way of life - if you don't like it, I am sure there are many other Countries in which you could be politically more comfortable and perhaps might agree with you psychology.

I believe and it is only my personal thoughts, that the Army and PM are playing a containment and waiting game. Contain the demonstrators and they will become bored with inactivity, which will demoralise them and ultimately many will begin to disperse, as we have already heard. There will of course be a hard-core element left, but one suspects there will probably be an element of disunity amongst the leadership, as their options to be effective are considerably reduced and will be much easier to arrest/disperse when the time comes. The objective of their plan is to achieve the dispersal goal and reclaim the land, with the minimum loss of human life therefore not alienating themselves from the greater Thai public.

It was also this present Government who persuaded other elements not to demonstrate against the Red Shirts as it would only dangerously escalate the probability of Thai against Thai.

Haha, so.... the Prime Minister says he will do what it takes to bring about normalcy and the army interprets that to "play the waiting game?" Make sense? I THINK NOT!!!! Even in Backgammon you have to take your turn within a reasonable amount of time!

This is a game a backgammon??? That's how you see it?

[Rinrada]

By what criteria could anyone consider Abhisit to be a decent person or good guy?

If you were here in May 1992, you would not have to ask.

Most leaders take these things personally and try to crush the opposition. Abhisit has done everything possible to avoid using a heavy hand despite pressure from his own people.

I understand the frustration of the reds, but Abhisit is trying to keep things from spinning out of control and really damaging the country.

Ulysses, i almost never agree with anything you say but credit where its due........

Without jumping on on any fan band wagon I would also agree that I dont think Abbi is a Bad Guy in fact I like him but WOT a MESS.

Dont forget its not a case of standing but simply just Call for an Election...ASAP and agree a suitable date.

Trouble is he s surrounded by some of the worse scoundrals that ever walked the face of the earth...and on BOTH sides and thats not including the dark forces etc that we dont talk about.

I was also here/there in May 92...BA had stopped all flights at the first sign of poo but managed to get on Thai.

Had a wander down to the Royal Hotel a day or so before the situation went mad but then there was no sky train so had to dodge the army trucks on the way back along Suk Rd ...to the cowboy which was "business as usual"...amazing T-land indeed.

Whatever happens Thailand will recover but maybe...just maybe ......the "magic"will have gone.

[highgrade]

Why dont someone shows more care about the issues of these people?

If the money seized from Thaksin was to be used for the improvment of the rural areas where most of the red shirts are from, that by building better infrastructures schools hospitals, agricultural subventions and help and so on the list is long.

I am sure that will ease the tensions and wouldnt leave any good reason for those people to be there

who are for the most rural farmers poorly educated living without basic infrastructure and feeding most of the country from their work and labor but now considered as brutal animals running the streets of Bangkok, yes the violence and the resturn of Thaksin are 2 no gos and are non sense.

but on the other hand there is certain claims of these people that are right, why shall the industry in big cities profits only to the elite while the rest of the country is completely neglected.

What we see now in Bangkok is a rise of the poor awarness and revolt against a sysytem that kept them dumb for so long.

and unfortunately those who took the opportunuty to open their eyes on this are using the power for their own political intrests.

[SomTumTiger]

Why dont someone shows more care about the issues of these people?

If the money seized from Thaksin was to be used for the improvment of the rural areas where most of the red shirts are from, that by building better infrastructures schools hospitals, agricultural subventions and help and so on the list is long.

I am sure that will ease the tensions and wouldnt leave any good reason for those people to be there

who are for the most rural farmers poorly educated living without basic infrastructure and feeding most of the country from their work and labor but now considered as brutal animals running the streets of Bangkok, yes the violence and the resturn of Thaksin are 2 no gos and are non sense.

but on the other hand there is certain claims of these people that are right, why shall the industry in big cities profits only to the elite while the rest of the country is completely neglected.

What we see now in Bangkok is a rise of the poor awarness and revolt against a sysytem that kept them dumb for so long.

and unfortunately those who took the opportunuty to open their eyes on this are using the power for their own political intrests.

Lurk much? lol

[highgrade]

Why dont someone shows more care about the issues of these people?

If the money seized from Thaksin was to be used for the improvment of the rural areas where most of the red shirts are from, that by building better infrastructures schools hospitals, agricultural subventions and help and so on the list is long.

I am sure that will ease the tensions and wouldnt leave any good reason for those people to be there

who are for the most rural farmers poorly educated living without basic infrastructure and feeding most of the country from their work and labor but now considered as brutal animals running the streets of Bangkok, yes the violence and the resturn of Thaksin are 2 no gos and are non sense.

but on the other hand there is certain claims of these people that are right, why shall the industry in big cities profits only to the elite while the rest of the country is completely neglected.

What we see now in Bangkok is a rise of the poor awarness and revolt against a sysytem that kept them dumb for so long.

and unfortunately those who took the opportunuty to open their eyes on this are using the power for their own political intrests.

Lurk much? lol

Can you give me a better explained opinion on this please?

[eeconomist]

Thailand already loss a great leader Thaksin.

Mark is the only great leader Thailand have left.

Look around you, there is no other alternatives.

Hence please do not suspend Mark for 5 years. Please.

Thanks to the Junta's "Constitution"..........

Aung San Su Kyi is correct after all!

[Gary A]

Why don't you people wake up and smell the coffee? The government lost control when they allowed the yellow shirts to seize and loot the government house. Had the government cracked down on the mob at that point, Thailand would not be looking at this situation today.

[way2muchcoffee]

Paranoia fueled by testosterone and Red Bull, and MSG and alcohol make for a jittery person who can't sleep at night, and sees ghosts in every shadow.

Interesting to note. My wife wanted to check out the Ratchaprasong demonstrations 2 nights ago. She was curious, being from Surin. The red guards would not let her and her friends bring in any alcohol. No alcohol allowed, especially anywhere near the stages.

[way2muchcoffee]

Why don't you people wake up and smell the coffee? The government lost control when they allowed the yellow shirts to seize and loot the government house. Had the government cracked down on the mob at that point, Thailand would not be looking at this situation today.

That was a different government. The government at that time was controlled by the same people in league with the present red shirt movement.

Edited April 30, 2010 by way2muchcoffee

[Jerrytheyoung]

One very worrying point is that the Western Embassies have reinforced the ban/warning for travelling to Thailand. As they are in touch with both sides and have more information than most of us (and also experience) it means that they are estimating a high probability we are going to further escalations.

[hammered]

The thing to worry abvout is that if the government has lost control then there are plenty of people behind the government who can put together enough upcountry people and fire them up to come down and take out the reds in hours, which will likely also trigger abacklash later aginst those who did it. Maybe we should be hoping the government are at least a little in control

[khunjamespittman]

I ask all TV viewers to read the closed forum that is dominated by The Nation.

This forum is clearly not a news forum anymore. It is an editorial forum for The Nation and should be designated as such. There is not longer any need to keep this forum closed under the guise of news.

I find very little news there now. It is full of opinions and rumors from the Nation Reporters and government propaganda..

Further I hope that when this conflict is resolved and a legitimate government comes to power that appropriate action will be taken to denounce the The Nation as a propaganda arm of the existing government and consideration be given th revoke their right to operate a public broadcast organization via licensing restrictions. I further hope that invsetigation of the reporters postings be examined for violation of Thai laws. It appears to me that several of The Nations postings in recent days of rumors and false statements may very well be in violation of the current operating Thai law at the present.

In earlier postings I have consistently requested that TV rein in these renegade reporters and remove all editorial and opinion postings from the "Closed News Forum". The question must be asked. Is TV in a conspiracy with the Nation by permitting this postings. Under Thai internet precedence is would appear that they are at least culpable. These postings remove any sembance of neutrality.

[jayjay0]

yesterday in parliament session, Chalerm said it was pointless to grill Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva as "he led the only democratic government in the world tainted by bloodshed".

i thought the reds said the government weren't DEMOCRATIC??

now Phua Thai MP Chalerm says they are??

wasn't that democracy thing something that the reds were fighting for ?

now Chalerm says they already have it?

is it time for the reds to to go home then?

oh sorry, for a moment, i forgot that the red version of democracy is much different to the regular version of democracy

Do you even know what a democracy is. In the USA if they had one Al Gore would have been President.How do you explain that.

[hammered]

I ask all TV viewers to read the closed forum that is dominated by The Nation.

This forum is clearly not a news forum anymore. It is an editorial forum for The Nation and should be designated as such. There is not longer any need to keep this forum closed under the guise of news.

I find very little news there now. It is full of opinions and rumors from the Nation Reporters and government propaganda..

Further I hope that when this conflict is resolved and a legitimate government comes to power that appropriate action will be taken to denounce the The Nation as a propaganda arm of the existing government and consideration be given th revoke their right to operate a public broadcast organization via licensing restrictions. I further hope that invsetigation of the reporters postings be examined for violation of Thai laws. It appears to me that several of The Nations postings in recent days of rumors and false statements may very well be in violation of the current operating Thai law at the present.

In earlier postings I have consistently requested that TV rein in these renegade reporters and remove all editorial and opinion postings from the "Closed News Forum". The question must be asked. Is TV in a conspiracy with the Nation by permitting this postings. Under Thai internet precedence is would appear that they are at least culpable. These postings remove any sembance of neutrality.

So you dont believe in freedom of speech. Anyone lese you would want to rein in? Maybe ASTV or any opf the red media as the nation is a paragon of balanced journalism compared to these two. By the way I suggest you read the full nation everyday. There are plenty of articles that are criticalk of what is seen as the nation line

Anyway I totally disagree and support freedom of speech without condition for nation, TV, red publications, ASTV and any poster on here. The more views the merrier

[saintofsilence]

PM Abhisit has handled this in a way that he gains more and more respect from the Thai people and international community everyday and they should be very grateful , he would make an excellent ambasadore for Thailand in any country , and these non violent reds that are being used as pawns and human shields should wake up and go back home to their villages and support him.

The hard core reds will get what is coming to them and it won't pretty.

[gemini81]

Why dont someone shows more care about the issues of these people?

If the money seized from Thaksin was to be used for the improvment of the rural areas where most of the red shirts are from, that by building better infrastructures schools hospitals, agricultural subventions and help and so on the list is long.

I am sure that will ease the tensions and wouldnt leave any good reason for those people to be there

who are for the most rural farmers poorly educated living without basic infrastructure and feeding most of the country from their work and labor but now considered as brutal animals running the streets of Bangkok, yes the violence and the resturn of Thaksin are 2 no gos and are non sense.

but on the other hand there is certain claims of these people that are right, why shall the industry in big cities profits only to the elite while the rest of the country is completely neglected.

What we see now in Bangkok is a rise of the poor awarness and revolt against a sysytem that kept them dumb for so long.

and unfortunately those who took the opportunuty to open their eyes on this are using the power for their own political intrests.

they are not beggin for sympathy, but rather, hangin' themselves with their recent mischief. Hard to build a case in the recent events. It's like they desire to be hated and rejected, storming hospitals to make trouble with soldiers doing their duty. They're despicable, man.

[gatorsoft]

Why dont someone shows more care about the issues of these people?

If the money seized from Thaksin was to be used for the improvment of the rural areas where most of the red shirts are from, that by building better infrastructures schools hospitals, agricultural subventions and help and so on the list is long.

I am sure that will ease the tensions and wouldnt leave any good reason for those people to be there

who are for the most rural farmers poorly educated living without basic infrastructure and feeding most of the country from their work and labor but now considered as brutal animals running the streets of Bangkok, yes the violence and the resturn of Thaksin are 2 no gos and are non sense.

but on the other hand there is certain claims of these people that are right, why shall the industry in big cities profits only to the elite while the rest of the country is completely neglected.

What we see now in Bangkok is a rise of the poor awarness and revolt against a sysytem that kept them dumb for so long.

and unfortunately those who took the opportunuty to open their eyes on this are using the power for their own political intrests.

Highgrade: Rational comments like this seem out of place on this board. Apparently this forum is primarily for people to sling mud, call names, and

listen to other people who have the same opinion as themselves. (Yes, I am to some extent guilty of the mud slinging and name calling myself)

You hit the nail on the head about the root causes here. But it seems most people would like to continue blaming everything on Thaksin and praising the current totalitarian regime. I was not in Thailand, or even paying much attention to it, during Thaksin's tenure, so I admittedly am somewhat ignorant of just how good or bad he is/was. But I believe this struggle is about a lot more than Thaksin and an alleged attempt to get him back in office.

I don't buy the redshirt mantra that they are 100% peaceful and everything that happens to the contrary is due to infiltrators anymore than I buy the mantra that Abhisit is a good decent man showing remarkable restraint. Nobody praised Somchai for not responding to the airport takeover with a heavy hand. In any other nation I can think of, the airport takeover would have triggered massive violent conflict, just as the current situation would not be tolerated.

We all (yes, myself included) have our personal blinders on so we can only see things the way we want. This is unfortunate for all since we won't resolve or learn anything until we try to objectively look at both sides. I fear we are looking at many years of back and forth power struggles in the streets as the pendulum swings to and fro. Until the electorate of the whole nation gains trust in the electoral process, the streets will be regularly filled with protesters of one color or another.

I wish that I had a solution to offer. As much as I dislike the dictatorial policies of the current government, I must admit that they are in an impossible situation. When the shoe was on the other foot and the PAD was determined to take the government down or destroy the country trying, the courts ended the impasse. Maybe that will ultimately be what happens here. I come from a country where the government regularly changes orientation through the electoral process without violence and bloodshed. That makes it hard for me to accept or understand the Thai way of choosing leadership exercised for the last few years. Thankfully the monarchy gives all Thais something to look up to and respect. What the country really needs now is an attack from outside its borders to remind everyone that they are all Thais and need to stand united.

[gatorsoft]

yesterday in parliament session, Chalerm said it was pointless to grill Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva as "he led the only democratic government in the world tainted by bloodshed".

i thought the reds said the government weren't DEMOCRATIC??

now Phua Thai MP Chalerm says they are??

wasn't that democracy thing something that the reds were fighting for ?

now Chalerm says they already have it?

is it time for the reds to to go home then?

oh sorry, for a moment, i forgot that the red version of democracy is much different to the regular version of democracy

Do you even know what a democracy is. In the USA if they had one Al Gore would have been President.How do you explain that.

Oh my God!~ Not that ridiculous sh*t again.

[khunjamespittman]

I ask all TV viewers to read the closed forum that is dominated by The Nation.

This forum is clearly not a news forum anymore. It is an editorial forum for The Nation and should be designated as such. There is not longer any need to keep this forum closed under the guise of news.

I find very little news there now. It is full of opinions and rumors from the Nation Reporters and government propaganda..

Further I hope that when this conflict is resolved and a legitimate government comes to power that appropriate action will be taken to denounce the The Nation as a propaganda arm of the existing government and consideration be given th revoke their right to operate a public broadcast organization via licensing restrictions. I further hope that invsetigation of the reporters postings be examined for violation of Thai laws. It appears to me that several of The Nations postings in recent days of rumors and false statements may very well be in violation of the current operating Thai law at the present.

In earlier postings I have consistently requested that TV rein in these renegade reporters and remove all editorial and opinion postings from the "Closed News Forum". The question must be asked. Is TV in a conspiracy with the Nation by permitting this postings. Under Thai internet precedence is would appear that they are at least culpable. These postings remove any sembance of neutrality.

Please let me correct your statement. Three independent studies analized the Gore/Bush results and all determined that Bush was the clear winner. Repeating a false rumor can never make it fact.