Bangkok's Drawn-Out Saga Is Starting To Get On Our Nerves

[Herm]

THE NATION: (1pm): Seh Daeng said all redshirts leaders except Jatuporn didn't want to continue fighting. "They're out of their minds." #NNA

THE NATION: Seh Daeng to Anupong: Don't listen to Abhsit otherwise you may have no where to live (in Thailand).

THE NATION: Seh Daeng: Veera, Weng, Nuttawut and Wisa went to negotiate at the 11th Infantcry and agreed to put 'hard-ore' reds in jails. -NNA

please clarify this one - seems strange ok, have just noticed the : -

Edited May 10, 2010 by Herm

[SICA]

Today for the first time since this started I noticed soldiers at the bts station Nana and in front of Pacific Place near the KBank and UOB Bank.

Do they know something we don't?

Can't speak for Pacific Place but there has been armed soldiers at Nana and Asok BTS for ages, perhaps even weeks

[bkkjames]

Today for the first time since this started I noticed soldiers at the bts station Nana and in front of Pacific Place near the KBank and UOB Bank.

Do they know something we don't?

Can't speak for Pacific Place but there has been armed soldiers at Nana and Asok BTS for ages, perhaps even weeks

Not at Nana, anyways just a bit surprised to see them there today. Asok, two weeks.

[elcent]

SUPERP!!!

-- The Nation

Value the freedom to do the simple things

By Veena Thoopkrajae

Imagine if you:

Couldn't go and have a cup of coffee at Starbucks; couldn't "tweet" under your own name; couldn't open a blog and upload your photos on any blog; couldn't do "facebooking"; couldn't go to see an Imax 3-D movie; couldn't go to Chatuchak Market; couldn't walk around your house in a paakoma (a Thai version of a towel); couldn't go to a grocery store in shorts; couldn't go out at night to a roadside khao tom shop when feeling hungry; couldn't resign from your work; couldn't ask for annual leave; couldn't complain if work is too tough; couldn't go to a shopping mall; couldn't go anywhere alone; couldn't design your own birthday party; could only recommend abstract things like hard work, honesty and patience; couldn't vote; couldn't sue anyone for defamation; couldn't express any political opinion; couldn't correct anything when the media or people spin words; or couldn't criticise or compliment any person, especially a politician.

These are some of the things that His Majesty King Bhumibol can't do, and I am positive that the list could go on and on.

The list was inspired by a conversation with my daughter, when one day she asked me why some people are accused of being anti-monarchy.

To make it easier for a 14-year-old, I put it simply: They might think that the King has too many privileges.

She suddenly replied: "Silly, I think the King has the least freedom and rights of all the people in Thailand."

Sometimes a comment from a young and innocent mind that has not been exposed to influence gives us the best answer to an issue that academics and the media try to make too complicated.

There are questions from republicans too, and I remember an American friend of mine discussing the lese majeste law, as he perceives it, as something that restricts people's freedom.

What I told him in a very plain and non-academic tone is that, "No one really suffers from the law."

We commoners can file a lawsuit against a person who we believe trying to defame us, but the King just can't. "I guess that is why the law is there to protect him."

Personally, I believe the King does realise that there are people opposed to the law, as he mentioned in his birthday speech in 2005:

"�. under King Rama IX, whoever rebelled, which had never really occurred anyway, were not put in jail, but were set free. Or � if they were already in jail, they were set free. If they were not in jail, they were not prosecuted. Because it's troublesome.

The one who is insulted is the one who is troubled. For instance, those who violate the King and get punished are not necessarily troubled. But the King is.

In the same year, the King also touched upon his inability to compliment or criticise the prime minister. He said: "Even when I'm not criticising people, sometimes they announce in the newspapers that the King criticizes this and that person."

It is rather too much for a young one like my daughter to comprehend further, but I do learn from her. One day when I told her the story of a man who refused to stand in a movie theatre while the nation anthem was played, she was very surprised and her reaction was this: "That's it? [with her voice raised] C'mon, there are more annoying rules in my school than this. And I never see anyone suffering for showing respect to the King."

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

Edited May 10, 2010 by elcent

[Herm]

SUPERP!!!

-- The Nation

Value the freedom to do the simple things

By Veena Thoopkrajae

Imagine if you:

Couldn't go and have a cup of coffee at Starbucks; couldn't "tweet" under your own name; couldn't open a blog and upload your photos on any blog; couldn't do "facebooking"; couldn't go to see an Imax 3-D movie; couldn't go to Chatuchak Market; couldn't walk around your house in a paakoma (a Thai version of a towel); couldn't go to a grocery store in shorts; couldn't go out at night to a roadside khao tom shop when feeling hungry; couldn't resign from your work; couldn't ask for annual leave; couldn't complain if work is too tough; couldn't go to a shopping mall; couldn't go anywhere alone; couldn't design your own birthday party; could only recommend abstract things like hard work, honesty and patience; couldn't vote; couldn't sue anyone for defamation; couldn't express any political opinion; couldn't correct anything when the media or people spin words; or couldn't criticise or compliment any person, especially a politician.

These are some of the things that His Majesty King Bhumibol can't do, and I am positive that the list could go on and on.

The list was inspired by a conversation with my daughter, when one day she asked me why some people are accused of being anti-monarchy.

To make it easier for a 14-year-old, I put it simply: They might think that the King has too many privileges.

She suddenly replied: "Silly, I think the King has the least freedom and rights of all the people in Thailand."

Sometimes a comment from a young and innocent mind that has not been exposed to influence gives us the best answer to an issue that academics and the media try to make too complicated.

There are questions from republicans too, and I remember an American friend of mine discussing the lese majeste law, as he perceives it, as something that restricts people's freedom.

What I told him in a very plain and non-academic tone is that, "No one really suffers from the law."

We commoners can file a lawsuit against a person who we believe trying to defame us, but the King just can't. "I guess that is why the law is there to protect him."

Personally, I believe the King does realise that there are people opposed to the law, as he mentioned in his birthday speech in 2005:

"�. under King Rama IX, whoever rebelled, which had never really occurred anyway, were not put in jail, but were set free. Or � if they were already in jail, they were set free. If they were not in jail, they were not prosecuted. Because it's troublesome.

The one who is insulted is the one who is troubled. For instance, those who violate the King and get punished are not necessarily troubled. But the King is.

In the same year, the King also touched upon his inability to compliment or criticise the prime minister. He said: "Even when I'm not criticising people, sometimes they announce in the newspapers that the King criticizes this and that person."

It is rather too much for a young one like my daughter to comprehend further, but I do learn from her. One day when I told her the story of a man who refused to stand in a movie theatre while the nation anthem was played, she was very surprised and her reaction was this: "That's it? [with her voice raised] C'mon, there are more annoying rules in my school than this. And I never see anyone suffering for showing respect to the King."

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

Do you really expect any of the reds to understand this article and its meaning ?

However, give me 10 Million $ and I would comply with a quite few of the restrictions like never going to starbucks and never eat khao tom ....

Edited May 10, 2010 by Herm

[Humphrey Bear]

I'm surprised that this piece didn't include that the author was drunk at the time of writing. "starting to get on the nerves", is that for real? Not sure about the rest of you but this has been getting on my nerves since it started.

I can only assume that this author doesn't usually get involved with this particular situation with her day to day reports. What a total waste of time, both for the writer and the reader. I am sure all of us who are residents of Bangkok know exactly how annoying and frustrating this situation is and don't need a clueless reporter to tell us. I am also quite sure that anybody who reads that particular newspaper has a pretty good idea how annoying and frustrating it is for BKK residents.

And seriously, do any of you give two hoots about how delegates at that exhibiton, or whatever the hel_l it is, feel about the Big Mango? I know i certainly don't.

Rant over - have a beautiful day everybody and keep smiling

The article was more of an opinion piece than a news report.

It was written by a Thai in a language far removed from his mother-tongue.

So it will probably have phrases and grammar included that are a little inconguous in an English-language newspaper. Could you do better in a Thai-language newspaper, if you were back home?

With regard to Singapore - there is a lot of investment going in there that might otherwise have come to Thailand - Sumitomo have large petrochemical plants under construction, Shell (as noted above) are investing heavily. There are new developments of luxury managerial housing on the island and just over the water around JB. The place is booming. Much of this may have gone elsewhere (e.g. Thailand) if the companies involved, plus their bankers, had more faith in alternative locations such as Thailand and Vietnam.

But, whereas VN is training up a workforce at low cost to compete in SE Asia (such as refineries at Dung Quat, oil/gas onshore at Vung Tau and other areas, big developments under discussion around Haiphong, central areas such as Hue and so on), Thailand is shouting from the rooftops "We don't need you! We don't want you" and this is now being taken to heart by the major investors.

Better a controlling government that promises less, but delivers, than a country out-of-control, with no strong government. (Like UK at the moment and Oz in a few weeks)

[retarius]

what's a "buff"?

a red shirt and their supporters but also Buffoon - where one may consider this an insult for all buffoons (a kind of monkey - not the brightest one on the block but very aggressive)

Of course it stands for 'buffalo' which is a Thai insult, used by the elites to refer to the poor rural classes as dumb slow animals that have to be led....the Thai equivalent of their 'white man's burden'

[Herm]

I'm surprised that this piece didn't include that the author was drunk at the time of writing. "starting to get on the nerves", is that for real? Not sure about the rest of you but this has been getting on my nerves since it started.

I can only assume that this author doesn't usually get involved with this particular situation with her day to day reports. What a total waste of time, both for the writer and the reader. I am sure all of us who are residents of Bangkok know exactly how annoying and frustrating this situation is and don't need a clueless reporter to tell us. I am also quite sure that anybody who reads that particular newspaper has a pretty good idea how annoying and frustrating it is for BKK residents.

And seriously, do any of you give two hoots about how delegates at that exhibiton, or whatever the hel_l it is, feel about the Big Mango? I know i certainly don't.

Rant over - have a beautiful day everybody and keep smiling

The article was more of an opinion piece than a news report.

It was written by a Thai in a language far removed from his mother-tongue.

So it will probably have phrases and grammar included that are a little inconguous in an English-language newspaper. Could you do better in a Thai-language newspaper, if you were back home?

With regard to Singapore - there is a lot of investment going in there that might otherwise have come to Thailand - Sumitomo have large petrochemical plants under construction, Shell (as noted above) are investing heavily. There are new developments of luxury managerial housing on the island and just over the water around JB. The place is booming. Much of this may have gone elsewhere (e.g. Thailand) if the companies involved, plus their bankers, had more faith in alternative locations such as Thailand and Vietnam.

But, whereas VN is training up a workforce at low cost to compete in SE Asia (such as refineries at Dung Quat, oil/gas onshore at Vung Tau and other areas, big developments under discussion around Haiphong, central areas such as Hue and so on), Thailand is shouting from the rooftops "We don't need you! We don't want you" and this is now being taken to heart by the major investors.

Better a controlling government that promises less, but delivers, than a country out-of-control, with no strong government. (Like UK at the moment and Oz in a few weeks)

A couple of points here:

An English newspaper should only employ people who's English is perfect like the Daily Mail (note: that's sarcasm) but the Thai /English papers do have some writers who really should be re-trained.

Thailand has always made it clear that foreigners are not really welcome. Extremely hard VISA regulations, imposing Thai shareholders if you want to open a company, can not buy land even for domestic purposes and if you have a Thai wife and child etc....

The other countries in this region are far easier nowadays while Thailand is making living here ever more difficult. Even In Laos for example, you can own a company 100%, visas are easier etc...

large corporation are looking for stability and low labor cost or highly skilled labor at relatively low cost and they find all this in the other SEA countries but not in Thailand anymore.

Without foreign investment and companies opening production here, without a tourist industry, Thailand is going to quickly become a burden to the UN once starvation sets in. The infrastructure is going to fall into disrepair and a 3rd world status is ensured.

The biggest damage that is currently being done is not the immediate damage to tourism and investment, but the fact that it will take a decade or more to re-install trust into investors to come to Thailand, if this will ever be possible. Thailand has now entered the list of high risk, unstable countries for investors and a dangerous country as far as tourists are concerned.

All this thanks to Thaksin and his muppets

The government must move now before even those that are here already will reconsider and move their production elsewhere

Edited May 10, 2010 by Herm

[Herm]

what's a "buff"?

a red shirt and their supporters but also Buffoon - where one may consider this an insult for all buffoons (a kind of monkey - not the brightest one on the block but very aggressive)

Of course it stands for 'buffalo' which is a Thai insult, used by the elites to refer to the poor rural classes as dumb slow animals that have to be led....the Thai equivalent of their 'white man's burden'

While dumb and slow - needing to be led apply 100%, the Buffalo is a peaceful animal, which can not be said about the mob so I think Buffoon is rather more applicable

[OzMick]

Seh Daeng: Thaksin Appoints New Red Shirt Leaders

Dismissed army general General Kattiya Sawasdipol now claims that Thaksin Shinawatra has appointed three new red shirt leaders namely Arisman Pongruengrong, Suporn Attawong or Rambo Esarn, and Udon Thani leader Kwanchai Praipana.

He is also claiming that they will not be dispersing anytime soon.

-- Tan Network 2010-05-10

What's next then? Rajprasong closed forever?

How about moving Anupong to stay in Intercontinental hotel, lowest floor, until this is over?

"........General Kattiya Sawasdipol now claims that Thaksin Shinawatra has appointed three new red shirt leaders .........."

Will we now be receiving apologies from all the red apologists who have stated that this is NOT about Thaksin and his money? Maybe we can hear a little less about social injustice, illegal government and all the other BS that they have swallowed whole. No, probably not.

[gemini81]

I might even go out on a limb and say that thai soap operas are more interesting and better planned..now thats when you've got one boring drawn out saga!

[jonclark]

Reading between the lines of Sah dungs / Abhisit and Veeras comments, it appears obvious that a the reds have become fragmented and disorganised. The road map has split them.

I think the final act could come soon. Veera will lead the reds who can / want to away as well as any other red leader. They will be given nominal jail sentences and instant bail after they publically distance themselves and the red shirt movement from Sah Dung and the reds left (expect Pt MP's to jump on the bandwagon here and join veera and co) . Sah Dung will be free to rant with his hardcore. The gov and army with Veera and co will unify all Thais with a common enemy / backstabbing bast**d. The army goes in with the blessing of the majority. Game over.

[thaihome]

I'm surprised that this piece didn't include that the author was drunk at the time of writing. "starting to get on the nerves", is that for real? Not sure about the rest of you but this has been getting on my nerves since it started.

I can only assume that this author doesn't usually get involved with this particular situation with her day to day reports. What a total waste of time, both for the writer and the reader. I am sure all of us who are residents of Bangkok know exactly how annoying and frustrating this situation is and don't need a clueless reporter to tell us. I am also quite sure that anybody who reads that particular newspaper has a pretty good idea how annoying and frustrating it is for BKK residents.

And seriously, do any of you give two hoots about how delegates at that exhibiton, or whatever the hel_l it is, feel about the Big Mango? I know i certainly don't.

Rant over - have a beautiful day everybody and keep smiling

The article was more of an opinion piece than a news report.

It was written by a Thai in a language far removed from his mother-tongue.

So it will probably have phrases and grammar included that are a little inconguous in an English-language newspaper. Could you do better in a Thai-language newspaper, if you were back home?

With regard to Singapore - there is a lot of investment going in there that might otherwise have come to Thailand - Sumitomo have large petrochemical plants under construction, Shell (as noted above) are investing heavily. There are new developments of luxury managerial housing on the island and just over the water around JB. The place is booming. Much of this may have gone elsewhere (e.g. Thailand) if the companies involved, plus their bankers, had more faith in alternative locations such as Thailand and Vietnam.

But, whereas VN is training up a workforce at low cost to compete in SE Asia (such as refineries at Dung Quat, oil/gas onshore at Vung Tau and other areas, big developments under discussion around Haiphong, central areas such as Hue and so on), Thailand is shouting from the rooftops "We don't need you! We don't want you" and this is now being taken to heart by the major investors.

Better a controlling government that promises less, but delivers, than a country out-of-control, with no strong government. (Like UK at the moment and Oz in a few weeks)

Just a point of fact here. In the last 4-5 years probably something 10 billion dollars has been invested in Thailand by both local companies such as PTT and SCG as well as major MNC’s, particularly in the petrochemical industry, to say nothing of the automotive and electronics industries. There has been an industrial construction boom going on now for over 5 years. No business has ever been lost to Singapore, they are completely different places.

Funny you should mention Vietnam and refineries. The Dung Quat refinery was started in 1988. During that time the partners were Total, then Petronas, and finally the Russians. All gave up and quit. It was finally completed in 2009 by Petrovietnam alone. Within months of starting up, it suffered a major failure and has only started back up in January this year. Within the industry, it is a laughingstock. Talk to anyone about doing business in Vietnam and what a joke it is.

Getting visas does not even enter into the equation for companies looking to invest.

TH

[Redsunset]

Reading between the lines of Sah dungs / Abhisit and Veeras comments, it appears obvious that a the reds have become fragmented and disorganised. The road map has split them.

I think the final act could come soon. Veera will lead the reds who can / want to away as well as any other red leader. They will be given nominal jail sentences and instant bail after they publically distance themselves and the red shirt movement from Sah Dung and the reds left (expect Pt MP's to jump on the bandwagon here and join veera and co) . Sah Dung will be free to rant with his hardcore. The gov and army with Veera and co will unify all Thais with a common enemy / backstabbing bast**d. The army goes in with the blessing of the majority. Game over.

Actually, I think this whole protest movement is a bunch of wasteful crap.... it doesn't matter who sides with who, or who is guilty or who is a**kissing.... they should all go to Jail for screwing up the lives of millions of other people and the economy of Thailand... pure unadulterated trash in my opinion.

[kenallday]

I think calling Thai people dumb animals is unfair - I know some smart animals. seriously though it is not the fault of Thais that they lack some brain power its just the way it is - they are still nice people and deserve some respect from the media also they need to stop this protesting as it is getting them nowhere, It might be better if they just went home and let the tourists back into Bangkok as nana plaza and cowboy will be suffering

You sound like a disgruntled foreigner who was sociable unwelcome where he comes from so he came here where he figured the people were to stupid to see through him. I see you were smart enough to not give any information about yourself.

Why are you having a go at me? I may be foreign but I am not a retarded t shirt wearing terrorist. If you want information just PM me and I will happily contact you for a discussion. Can you please use a dictionary the next time you post - I found it rather difficult to understand your child like rant, many thanks.

[Redsunset]

I hope Jatuporn and Nuttawut do hard time breaking rocks with their shaved heads so that they lose 50 kilos of beer and greasy chicken fat... Weng, well Weng is useless so he can be a mannequin in some store window... Veera... who is he again? Arisaman, let him impale himself sliding down some wall onto a huge stake in the barrier around someone's home.... just useless lives....

[cheguevara]

@OP: What a piece of brilliant journalism. May I suggest a small holiday to whoever wrote that? Clearly he's stressed out.

[dukkha]

http://www.eurasiareview.com/2010/05/thaks...amsterdam.html..

[CosmicSurfer]

I'm surprised that this piece didn't include that the author was drunk at the time of writing. "starting to get on the nerves", is that for real? Not sure about the rest of you but this has been getting on my nerves since it started.

I can only assume that this author doesn't usually get involved with this particular situation with her day to day reports. What a total waste of time, both for the writer and the reader. I am sure all of us who are residents of Bangkok know exactly how annoying and frustrating this situation is and don't need a clueless reporter to tell us. I am also quite sure that anybody who reads that particular newspaper has a pretty good idea how annoying and frustrating it is for BKK residents.

And seriously, do any of you give two hoots about how delegates at that exhibiton, or whatever the hel_l it is, feel about the Big Mango? I know i certainly don't.

Rant over - have a beautiful day everybody and keep smiling

This <deleted> has put one of my business ventures in real danger (tourist related) and in another has cost me a hel_l of a lot already - YES this <deleted> is going on my nerves and has been doing so since it started and I don't give a flying fart if any protesters get hurt as long as the government clears this mob from Bangkok's roads before the economical damage it is causing becomes permanent - I have worked my but off and spend a lot of money on those businesses and yes, I'm pissed off and so are millions of Thai's who see their business they worked so hard for being put in jeopardy by those terrorists

Right On!!! I'm in exactly the same Boat!

Oft the Pigs... (or should it be "Buffaloes??)

Up against the Wall MudderF*ckers!!

All power to the People!

Ho.. Ho... Ho Chi... NOPE.. That's Wrong!!!

Ahhh....

Sum... Sum.... Sum Nah Nah!

Sum... Sum... Sum Nah Nah!!!...

5555555555555

This whole thing is getting real Old... FAST!!!!

Where's Mayor Daley and the Yippies when you need Them???

The "WHOLE WORLD'S WATCHING!"

CS

Edited May 10, 2010 by CosmicSurfer

[bkkjames]

@OP: What a piece of brilliant journalism. May I suggest a small holiday to whoever wrote that? Clearly he's stressed out.

He's a she mate. Go back, correct your error and resubmit for review. Or consult Zea rouge for an interpretation.

[jonclark]

Reading between the lines of Sah dungs / Abhisit and Veeras comments, it appears obvious that a the reds have become fragmented and disorganised. The road map has split them.

I think the final act could come soon. Veera will lead the reds who can / want to away as well as any other red leader. They will be given nominal jail sentences and instant bail after they publically distance themselves and the red shirt movement from Sah Dung and the reds left (expect Pt MP's to jump on the bandwagon here and join veera and co) . Sah Dung will be free to rant with his hardcore. The gov and army with Veera and co will unify all Thais with a common enemy / backstabbing bast**d. The army goes in with the blessing of the majority. Game over.

Actually, I think this whole protest movement is a bunch of wasteful crap.... it doesn't matter who sides with who, or who is guilty or who is a**kissing.... they should all go to Jail for screwing up the lives of millions of other people and the economy of Thailand... pure unadulterated trash in my opinion.

Redsunset agree with you 100% about how crap the whole situation has become. The protest has (had) some virtue in its original aims of social justice (despite the machinations of external influential people) But the way this situation continually plays out i am always mindful of the old Thai saying "No real friends, no true enemies." Expect the unexpected. It would be better for Veera et al to 're-align' with Abhisit than stay aligned with Sah Dung, in order to achieve their goals.

[Herm]

Wouldn't be too surprised if we'll see the first killings among the reds soon ... which will of course be blamed on the government

Abhisit has to put a stop to this whole <deleted> and have the army move in and clear this mess, Anyone getting hurt or killed will have caused this by him/herself but this is probably wishful thinking

This situation would have Confucius baffled

[selftaopath]

I wish it was as simple as that... I wish that we could have peace if people did NOT label others as dumb animals. But it is not that simple. In fact, it is the smart SELFISH, GREEDY trouble-makers who are causing a lot of these problems...

And we have a right to protest and ask them to disperse. They have BROKEN THE LAW....

I'll bet if you break the law in Singapore the same way you have done in Thailand, each red shirt leader would be caned 50 times... and the protest would be over.

If there is NO punishment there is NO crime.

[Herm]

Reading between the lines of Sah dungs / Abhisit and Veeras comments, it appears obvious that a the reds have become fragmented and disorganised. The road map has split them.

I think the final act could come soon. Veera will lead the reds who can / want to away as well as any other red leader. They will be given nominal jail sentences and instant bail after they publically distance themselves and the red shirt movement from Sah Dung and the reds left (expect Pt MP's to jump on the bandwagon here and join veera and co) . Sah Dung will be free to rant with his hardcore. The gov and army with Veera and co will unify all Thais with a common enemy / backstabbing bast**d. The army goes in with the blessing of the majority. Game over.

Actually, I think this whole protest movement is a bunch of wasteful crap.... it doesn't matter who sides with who, or who is guilty or who is a**kissing.... they should all go to Jail for screwing up the lives of millions of other people and the economy of Thailand... pure unadulterated trash in my opinion.

a truer word rarely spoken here

[Thailand]

The article is garbage but this is what the 'reds' are currently saying

"Kwanchai stated that he and his fellow red-shirt leaders have been unable to agree on their official response to the plan.

He claimed the peace plan was not created from public opinions and thus does not represent the views of the Thai public.

With the exact date of House dissolution not specified in the reconciliation plan, Kwanchai said the red-shirt leaders cannot decide if they will accept or decline the PM's road map.

He said the core red-shirt leaders would review public opinions regarding the issue before moving forward."

If these guys listened to "public opinion" they would have left long ago.

The time for pussyfooting has to be over surely. Give a real genuine final final warning to those remaining that they WILL be removed on Wednesday, or maybe Thursday, possibly Friday- or certainly soon-that will scare them.

[dundee007]

what's a "buff"?

a red shirt and their supporters but also Buffoon - where one may consider this an insult for all buffoons (a kind of monkey - not the brightest one on the block but very aggressive)

Buffalo - but then buffalos are useful and smell better! hahahaha.......

LOL

[SAMCHAROEN]

I watched the People channel (when it was still airing) 3-4 hours a day for about a week. Mostly it was in the evenings during their "prime time" speeches.

I watched many a red-shirt come up on stage and shout their lungs off . In all of this I did not find even a single point which led me to belive that there was any injustice done to the grass-root folks. In fact most of them looked happy and in good health .

All I did find was half-truths and twisted logic without any evidence presented for any of the numerous accusations.

This leads me to belive that the red-shirts have some kind of hidden adgenda .

I think that injustice has and is being done to non-red shirted people who have to struggle with all the traffic jams and inconveniences.

As to the strategy to end this useless movement - PM Abhisit has already done all he can and could do .

The red shirts have been given more than enough chances and face saving but they cant see the light.

Now its time to face reality as to who the red shirts really are and do what he (Abhisit) least wants to do.

[Deez]

What's with the name dropping? "Shell Eastern Petrochemical Complex"

Weak journalism from a reporter who is unable to eliminate their snob values from their articles.

I agree. Terrible article. And clearly very little grasp of the english language.

[OzMick]

Reading between the lines of Sah dungs / Abhisit and Veeras comments, it appears obvious that a the reds have become fragmented and disorganised. The road map has split them.

I think the final act could come soon. Veera will lead the reds who can / want to away as well as any other red leader. They will be given nominal jail sentences and instant bail after they publically distance themselves and the red shirt movement from Sah Dung and the reds left (expect Pt MP's to jump on the bandwagon here and join veera and co) . Sah Dung will be free to rant with his hardcore. The gov and army with Veera and co will unify all Thais with a common enemy / backstabbing bast**d. The army goes in with the blessing of the majority. Game over.

Actually, I think this whole protest movement is a bunch of wasteful crap.... it doesn't matter who sides with who, or who is guilty or who is a**kissing.... they should all go to Jail for screwing up the lives of millions of other people and the economy of Thailand... pure unadulterated trash in my opinion.

Redsunset agree with you 100% about how crap the whole situation has become. The protest has (had) some virtue in its original aims of social justice (despite the machinations of external influential people) But the way this situation continually plays out i am always mindful of the old Thai saying "No real friends, no true enemies." Expect the unexpected. It would be better for Veera et al to 're-align' with Abhisit than stay aligned with Sah Dung, in order to achieve their goals.

You still don't get it do you? The "social justice" bit was a smoke and mirrors PR scheme to cover the ONLY aim; getting Thaksin's money back. Now that the rats are starting to abandon the sinking ship, Thaksin is appointing new, harder-line leaders. Where, in your social justice campaign does some disgruntled billionaire get to decide who the leaders are? HE pays the wages, HE appoints the leaders, HE sets the agenda - and if you think that he is really concerned about the Issanites welfare, you would believe anything.

"...........General Kattiya Sawasdipol now claims that Thaksin Shinawatra has appointed three new red shirt leaders..........."

Edited May 10, 2010 by OzMick

[OzMick]

what's a "buff"?

a red shirt and their supporters but also Buffoon - where one may consider this an insult for all buffoons (a kind of monkey - not the brightest one on the block but very aggressive)

A buffoon is a type of monkey? Not according to my dictionary. Can you verify that, or was it a wild guess?