Clashes Continue, Turning Central Bangkok In Virtual Warzone

[frodo]

THE NATION: Red-shirt leader Jatuporn Phromphan quoted as saying the conflict has come too far to negotiate, so PM Abhisit must resign.

How about going home then?

That's a great place to start. It won't end the deeper problems, but at least some kind of reconciliation process can begin and move Thailand forward.

[rogerx007]

The country needs a leader with brain of Abhisit and balls of Thaksin (no pun intended) ... Just having good intentions doesn't work if u can't implement those.... hope Thailand emerges stronger after this debacle...

[whybother]

I don't care if the leader is a 3 legged monster. As long as he can do whatever it takes to bring this country closer to reconciliation then he will have my support.

Abhisit has been harping on about reconciliation but the country has only divided under his leadership. He should never have been PM.

The reds don't want reconciliation. They want to be in power. They only want one thing. That's why they don't want to negotiate.

[ericthai]

Abhisit is an honest man who has bent over backwards to avoid conflict yet the psychopathic leaders that manipulate the rank and file Red Shirt Brigade were and still are bent on extreme violence e and hatred from the start as their rhetoric so clearly showed and indeed still shows..

Twenty years here and Abhisit is the most progressive Prime minister to date willing to listen to all and his administration has implemented measures to assist the less well off in Thai society and indeed would have done more if it wasn't for the Red Shirt Brigaded actions to stall further measures as it was damaging thug Thaksin his family and their acolytes money stealing and law manipulation to yet further boost their fortunes at the expense of the majority.

The guy is an incompetent, irresponsible leader that has just brought the country to the edge of civil war, due to his impatience, frustration and unwillingness to show flexibility in negotiations. How much blood needs to be spilled under this idiots leadership before you tell him to resign ?

The blood lust on this forum is disgusting.

Way off base here can you imagine any other leader being in charge now, say Thaksin? If this was reversed and Thaksin was in power I would put the number of casualties in the hundreds already. You are a fool to think that Abhisit hasn't bent over backwards to give these idiots every possible way out and each time they have spit in the face of him and the rest of Thailand.

YOu are the one way off base.

Thaksin is calling for returning to the negotiation table. I would much rather have Thaksin calling the shots than this braindead moron Abhisit.

how long have you been living in Thailand?

I think not long enough, anyone that has been here for 5+ years knows how Taksin really is, Abhisit has been doing everything he can to resolve this without bloodshed, the Reds had been pushing and pushing. Taksin is the power hungry fool that believe he can come back to Thailand and be PM again, maybe he can run for in elections after he finishes his jail term.

dude do some research and see how Taksin really was, suppressed the news media, made things harder for ex-pats to get visa's, he does not like ex-pats and if he was in power and could really do what he wants, there would not be one ex-pat living in Thailand, only high dollar tourists.

[Steely Dan]

[b]RED LIE ALERT!!!

[/b]

YOu are the one way off base.

Thaksin is calling for returning to the negotiation table. I would much rather have Thaksin calling the shots than this braindead moron Abhisit.

RED LIE ALERT!!!!

Seh Daeng blew the gaffe on this little lie stating explicitly that his deity did not want the protests to stop because if the government stays in power he is finished at the next army reshuffle.

[mommysboy]

This is now civil war!

[andrew55]

A bit of light relief

I'd be Mc Lovin it if it wasn't for the poor innocents!

[noel2499rk]

This is a photo of a ten year old boy shot last night, a sober reminder to all those praying for a crackdown what it eventually leads to.

http://tweetphoto.com/22448632

This is a article on the shooting unfortunately in Thai

http://www.dailynews.co.th/newstartpage/in...contentId=65910

[chrisbkk10900]

I've just travelled from Phaya Thai to Klong Toey and return via Surasak, Suan Pluu, Sathorn, Convent, Silom, Suriwong, and Rama 4 etc. It's a ghost town feeling.

I witnessed the results of many acts of vandalism and fires and barracades etc.

When this is all over the clean-up and repair costs will be astronomical. They should sent the bill to Taksin.

It was however, pleasant to walk from Sathorn to Suriwong via Silom without the usual hustle and bustle and cars etc.

They dont have to send a bill because they robbed a big part of his money already... Should be more as enough to cover the costs. What a pathetic post

[lungmi]

Some of the coverage shows protesters being detained in handcuffs (plastic?).

About time. That's a key part of crowd dispersal. Every rowdy who is caught should be taken far away, locked up and booked. Don't leave it to police to detain them, as they've shown repeatedly, that they'll let them out. Who can the the turnkey? don't know, maybe there are some farang who need a break from being at their keyboards for 10 hours at a stretch.

Thanks Harold, Pretty much what I've surmised, though you've got some added inside info. I'm the one who was aghast at seeing the large poster of Thaksin, in my northern Thai town, - a formal portrait of him dressed in royal robes. The poster was put up while he was still PM.

Sorry, but I find that hard to believe. If it was true, I'm sure it would be used by the Democrats against Thaksin on every TV channel and newspaper.

Unlike Thaksin and all his people, I don't lie. I dearly wish I'd had a camera on hand at the time. The poster had to be 6 meters tall by 4 or 5 meters wide, and stood there for at least a week. There must be someone up in C.Rai who took a photo of it. I assumed the same poster was put up at other locations, but maybe it was unique to that one spot - a suburb called Ban Nam Lat, at the corner with Rim Kok road.

CMF has a copy over his bed, but I doubt that he would admit it.

I don't think "royal robes", but the official robes of the "Elite" after they appointment by the King.

[ungcas]

Way off base here can you imagine any other leader being in charge now, say Thaksin? If this was reversed and Thaksin was in power I would put the number of casualties in the hundreds already. You are a fool to think that Abhisit hasn't bent over backwards to give these idiots every possible way out and each time they have spit in the face of him and the rest of Thailand.

YOu are the one way off base.

Thaksin is calling for returning to the negotiation table. I would much rather have Thaksin calling the shots than this braindead moron Abhisit.

You would sooner have an Criminal as a leader ?

I was just going to say the same thing. I guess we know who the real moron... nah nm. too easy.

[jcbangkok]

THE NATION: Red-shirt leader Jatuporn Phromphan quoted as saying the conflict has come too far to negotiate, so PM Abhisit must resign.

How about going home then?

Would appear they think they have found a new home.

"We accept the road map but we are not leaving"

Wonder what would happen to a farang if he stole Billions (US) Dollars worth of property from Thais as this red mob has.

[noahvail]

This is now civil war!

Not yet. Shouting it doesn't make it real. This is a rebellion covering approximately one square mile in central Bangkok.

If it moves through the country, then I would agree.

Don't let the fear get to you.

[rabo]

A bit of light relief

Now that's a great photo, why don't CNN and the like post these things.

When was it taken? I see tanks in the background.

[whybother]

This is now civil war!

No. It's a few illegal armed protesters, fighting a losing battle.

[BKjohn]

The country needs a leader with brain of Abhisit and balls of Thaksin (no pun intended) ... Just having good intentions doesn't work if u can't implement those.... hope Thailand emerges stronger after this debacle...

Since when has Takki got balls ??? last time I looked, he was hiding in exile with body guards around him -tiny little balls would be a correct description - I think if anyone has shown balls here its Abhisit - first to wait that long against the wishes of the majority - than to force the military to actually do something

[OzMick]

I am seeing these reports and videos of "hundreds" of bullets being fired. I saw one video of a soldier replacing his empty magazine with another. Doesn't it seem the reported deaths and injuries are very low for all this shooting? Are these guys the worst shots in the world or is something else going on? Don't get me wrong, I don't want to see more people being shot, but it just doesn't add up.

OMG! HE CHANGED AN EMPTY MAGAZINE, AND GOT CAUGHT ON VIDEO! In most conflicts, it is normal for literally 100's of rounds to be fired per hit, especially with conscript troops or americans doing the shooting. I would expect each M-16 rifleman to be carrying close to 300 rounds.

In the dozens of videos I've seen, there have been nothing except single shots from the army. Standard issue is 30-shot clips, which, if on full automatic, will be gone in 2-1/2 seconds. You'd know it if someone was firing full automatic on you.

Carrying 300 rounds is not unusual for a soldier going into the height of the battle - 10 clips. Would you have them go into combat with 10 rounds?

"In most conflicts" ... are you talking about full-out war with machine gunners (accuracy by quantity)?

Here the soldiers are taking pains to shoot single shots every time. That speaks very well for the young conscripts who are seeing action for the first time.

Noah, please read again. I was taking the piss from the original Yank poster. And I still stand by "hundreds of rounds are fired for every hit" Try googling some stats for 'Nam.

[Ga-gai]

Besides Thaksin's economic support, my speculation is that there are many high ranked red-shirts that have invested a lot of money in this as well. Invested on the hope they will win a new election and get a position where thay can pilfer money from the government.

They want to get rid of Abhisit and call for new elections. But I can't find any valid points on why there is a really need for it. People can't just overthrow leaders just because they don't like them or "their man" wasn't elected. All this talk about the poor. What is it with the poor that needs to be so urgent adressed? Do they wanna open the government casbox and sprinkle over the Issanies? Do they hope that Thaksin will come give everyone at fat bonus? I find no valid ponits for the current situation...

And the pale skin thai-wannabies here on Thaivisa are just ignorant in their belief that they doing something honorable for their current geographic settlement in the corner of the world. This clash is not about good things to come. It's not a Pandora rebellion uprise. It's all about greed. Just like when the local elections are held and opponents are killing each other in the villigages in order just to lessen the competition. Greed, greed and greed!

And besides... There's nothing we aliens could or should get involved with. It can only lead to problems, as our understanding of this complicated culture isn't any deeper than we get from watching and socializing with our indigenous wife or girlfriend.

Edited May 15, 2010 by Ga-gai

[dukkha]

I wonder what way Condo Security guards will swing if it gets to civil war....lots of farangs living in expensive condos rely on these guys to protect them, will they?

You already know the answer to your question. It was quite rhetorical.

The answer is NO !!!!!!!

What you can in fact rely on is that when the reds come knockin' your friendly guard in will give you away. 100% bankable, guilt edged, guaranteed!

Chai khap. me farang yer khap. Farang yoo hong 123, 345, 678, 789, gor, 909 duay khap. khaa mort loei.

Rhetoric is my forte Bark/ing Mad......Its cold in Melbourne, but there is no mayhem, I have a few dear friends in Bangkok and it is their safety that is my concern, so many farangs believe they are invincible, some may like to reconsider this in the light of what I am reading from arm chairs in Bangers and Television Reports.....the word 'amok' comes to mind, albeit an Indonesian derivative but we have seen what they are capable of in terms of mob behaviour...stay safe.

[mccw]

reds you really need to pay attention before crying about innocents wuth no weapons

[agord]

Abhisit is an honest man who has bent over backwards to avoid conflict yet the psychopathic leaders that manipulate the rank and file Red Shirt Brigade were and still are bent on extreme violence e and hatred from the start as their rhetoric so clearly showed and indeed still shows..

Twenty years here and Abhisit is the most progressive Prime minister to date willing to listen to all and his administration has implemented measures to assist the less well off in Thai society and indeed would have done more if it wasn't for the Red Shirt Brigaded actions to stall further measures as it was damaging thug Thaksin his family and their acolytes money stealing and law manipulation to yet further boost their fortunes at the expense of the majority.

The guy is an incompetent, irresponsible leader that has just brought the country to the edge of civil war, due to his impatience, frustration and unwillingness to show flexibility in negotiations. How much blood needs to be spilled under this idiots leadership before you tell him to resign ?

The blood lust on this forum is disgusting.

Way off base here can you imagine any other leader being in charge now, say Thaksin? If this was reversed and Thaksin was in power I would put the number of casualties in the hundreds already. You are a fool to think that Abhisit hasn't bent over backwards to give these idiots every possible way out and each time they have spit in the face of him and the rest of Thailand.

YOu are the one way off base.

Thaksin is calling for returning to the negotiation table. I would much rather have Thaksin calling the shots than this braindead moron Abhisit.

Well as they say "up to you". For the rest of us and anyone else with a bit of sense I think we don't need to hear anymore from a criminal, a fugitive, a fake hero to the poor........... They have alreay been to the table, Thailand as a whole (and like it or not many of your red shirts) accepted what Abhisit had to offer as being fair and then the ridiculous demands and breakdown came again from this mobs leaders. YOU ARE LOSING MATE, it's over, Thaksin is not coming back, you don't have support from the Thai people in fact most want these thugs finished off. They have done more in the past couple of weeks to hurt their cause it's really unbelieveable they have ANY support left. I think you must be taking a piss on here to still be defending their actions? and no i don't think the US or UK will be sitting down for negotiations with Osama anytime soon either and asking what they can do to make him happy but you probably think that's a good idea too eh?

[whybother]

This is a photo of a ten year old boy shot last night, a sober reminder to all those praying for a crackdown what it eventually leads to.

http://tweetphoto.com/22448632

This is a article on the shooting unfortunately in Thai

http://www.dailynews.co.th/newstartpage/in...contentId=65910

It's also a sober reminder to the drunk drivers speeding towards army checkpoints with kids in the car.

Get the women and children out of there!

[rogerx007]

The country needs a leader with brain of Abhisit and balls of Thaksin (no pun intended) ... Just having good intentions doesn't work if u can't implement those.... hope Thailand emerges stronger after this debacle...

Since when has Takki got balls ??? last time I looked, he was hiding in exile with body guards around him -tiny little balls would be a correct description - I think if anyone has shown balls here its Abhisit - first to wait that long against the wishes of the majority - than to force the military to actually do something

well I am seeing more guys willing to die for him thn this govt right at this movement....

[soundman]

Off topic posts have been deleted.

[deathabovered]

YOu are the one way off base.

Thaksin is calling for returning to the negotiation table. I would much rather have Thaksin calling the shots than this braindead moron Abhisit.

You would sooner have an Criminal as a leader ?

I don't care if the leader is a 3 legged monster. As long as he can do whatever it takes to bring this country closer to reconciliation then he will have my support.

Abhisit has been harping on about reconciliation but the country has only divided under his leadership. He should never have been PM.

And Immigration shoul have stopped you at the airport!!

[Jerrytheyoung]

This is now civil war!

No we are not (yet???) in the Civil war. Unless the UpCountry is joining and military/Police Units (not individuals) are joining.

I expect that reason will prevail and we will not enter in such an event. (Spanish Civil war= 300,000 deads)

[jcbangkok]

This is a photo of a ten year old boy shot last night, a sober reminder to all those praying for a crackdown what it eventually leads to.

http://tweetphoto.com/22448632

This is a article on the shooting unfortunately in Thai

http://www.dailynews.co.th/newstartpage/in...contentId=65910

If the drunk driving the van had not died, he should have been put in prison for the rest of his life for driving drunk and trying to run a military road block. These morons who have brought their kids to this illegal mob for a few extra baht should also be jailed forever.

[frodo]

This is a photo of a ten year old boy shot last night, a sober reminder to all those praying for a crackdown what it eventually leads to.

http://tweetphoto.com/22448632

This is a article on the shooting unfortunately in Thai

http://www.dailynews.co.th/newstartpage/in...contentId=65910

A very sober reminder about good parenting skills. Good parents do not drive drunk with their kids in the vehicle. A good and respectable parent would never take a child into a war zone, then attempt to break through a check point knowing dam_n good and well troops have the authority to open fire under a SOE. Thanks for the reminder about being a parent. I truly hope the father receives life imprisonment for selfishly doing this to his child. I hope this kid makes a full recovery and is placed into a proper home with real loving parents who honestly care about his well-being.

[beejoir]

This is now civil war!

No its not, I just cycled through it all.

Quite tame to be honest!

[TAWP]

This is a photo of a ten year old boy shot last night, a sober reminder to all those praying for a crackdown what it eventually leads to.

http://tweetphoto.com/22448632

Blame the red shirt guard that tried to break through the barricade with the van to get items into the protest site.