Battle In Bangkok - This Is No Peasant's Revolt

[webfact]

EDITORIAL

This is no peasant's revolt

By The Nation

Red leaders were happy to stir the protesters into a frenzy and then abandon them when the battle seemed lost

BANGKOK: -- If anyone still thinks the ongoing street battle in Bangkok is a war between the urban rich and the rural poor, they need to think again. First of all, it might be easy to come to this simplistic perception as video after video and photograph after photograph suggest. On the one hand, there is a professional military armed with modern weapons, while on the other is a bunch of ragtag villagers and urban poor using Stone-Age weapons. Outnumbered and outgunned, these red shirts are putting their lives on the line to "liberate" this kingdom from the evil rich.

At first it was, "No, we don't have any weapons. We are peaceful people." But as the past six days have showed, these red shirt liberators are no longer camera shy. The closer the camera gets to them, the cockier they get. One man was in his underwear dancing for them. Another put up his toddler on the barricade. Somehow there was a desire to perform for the camera. One wondered why.

It's also difficult to miss the English signs and placards around the red enclaves. They read: "Democracy" and "Stop killing innocent women and children" and so on. And while television cameras capture these placards, red leaders turn up the heat on the stage, getting the crowd rowdy.

And as these images and sound-bytes shape the context of understanding of these events, meanwhile, on the government side we hear the word "terrorist" over and over to the point that it becomes almost meaningless.

It has been a hard-sell for the government counter-propaganda strategy, partly because homemade rockets and slingshots cannot be compared to hijacked planes crashing into tall buildings. But playing the "terrorist" card could prove disastrous, especially when the time comes to make concessions.

The red leaders have succeeded in getting their crowd into the fight of their lives. And then all of a sudden, after hundreds had been injured and scores killed, they wanted to call it quits. Unfortunately, they created Frankenstein, and the monster is tossing Molotov cocktails into shopping malls.

Nevertheless, through the lens of television cameras over these past weeks and months, the world has seen a compelling story made from incomprehensible data that reinforces what the audience wants to believe. The bottom line is that people believe what they see.

And what they see is a greedy elites versus the impoverished poor, and of course, the latter will always be right, as they hold the moral high ground. It's a mindset that shaped human history and it sells, and it is easy to consume once it is reduced to bite-size.

But is "good versus evil" the only way to see a developing country like Thailand - through the same lens that one used for other troubled places like Manila two decades ago or Rangoon just a year ago? The uprising in Thailand is no Philippine's "People Power" and Prime Minister Abhhisit Vejjajiva is no Ferdinand Marcos.

Never mind Tiananmen Square, but let's imagine if this was Paris, London or New York, the reds doing what they have done, they wouldn't have lasted for more than a week.

Is it because third world countries do not deserve the same kind of civility and ground rules that we see in Western society? Being reminded of one's deep prejudices isn't pleasant.

Furthermore, the fact that Abhisit made a serious offer - to hold a general election by November - that was rejected by the red leaders makes one wonder if the people's mandate was ever on their mind in the first place. They seem to care more about getting bail after this wave of street battles comes to an end than the wellbeing of the ordinary red shirts.

But the red leaders do not have a monopoly on selfishness and insensitivity. Their role model, Thaksin Shinawatra, was seen strolling along the Champs Elysees in Paris with his youngest daughter while his red followers were taking the bullets, partly to help pave the way for his pardon and the return of his money seized by the state - and partly, of course, for democracy, liberty and justice for all.

-- The Nation 2010-05-20

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[misterjag]

I agree that the Red Shirt leadership were foolish in not accepting Abhisit's compromise without trying to attach ridiculous conditions, but fail to understand how their surrender yesterday meant they abandoned their followers. Were they supposed to encourage their followers to fight to the death?

This is a stupid and irresponsible editorial.

[SomTumTiger]

Editorial is pretty accurate, and the cowardice of the Red Leaders in the face of real adversity is quite telling. I have grudging respect for Jatuporn and Nattawut - the only two leaders who did not run away, and stayed with their followers til the end.

Thaksin? Flew his family out at the first sign of trouble, with bundles of cash. Never coming back? One can only hope.

[tominbkk]

I agree that the Red Shirt leadership were foolish in not accepting Abhisit's compromise without trying to attach ridiculous conditions, but fail to understand how their surrender yesterday meant they abandoned their followers. Were they supposed to encourage their followers to fight to the death?

This is a stupid and irresponsible editorial.

the moment the Red leaders were in danger themselves they either scurried away like cockroaches or eagerly made themselves the army's bitches. This in total contradiction to their continuous "fight to the death" chants that they brainwashed their not so bright flock with. Unfortunately,when the Red leaders finally decided to chicken out with their promises/threats, they had brainwashed enough of their flock to want to kill, maim, destroy and otherwise act recklessly, without any thought of human compassion. The Red shirts have changed their followers into animals.

[whybother]

Has anyone seen any international condemnation of what happened yesterday, or in the last few weeks?

This is the first I have seen.

The U.S. State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid said Washington condemns protesters' attacks on reporters and burning many properties in Bangkok.

edit: oh ... besides condemnation of the government by a Montenegrin citizen.

Edited May 20, 2010 by whybother

[sawadeeken]

I agree that the Red Shirt leadership were foolish in not accepting Abhisit's compromise without trying to attach ridiculous conditions, but fail to understand how their surrender yesterday meant they abandoned their followers. Were they supposed to encourage their followers to fight to the death?

This is a stupid and irresponsible editorial.

I think it is a well writen article by somebody who is well informed, unlike yourself............... Google the "jonestown massacre" and see how that guy Jones led masses of people in the wrong direction (almost a thousand followers commited suicide).............. Just as these lovely Isan folks, Ill-educated as most are, have been easily led astray. If you really think it is about Democracy -- you're naive......... If you notice that most of us back the Govt and a minority back the red-shirts----- If you know anything about Democracy, or life in general, you will know that the majority rules and wins............

[whybother]

I agree that the Red Shirt leadership were foolish in not accepting Abhisit's compromise without trying to attach ridiculous conditions, but fail to understand how their surrender yesterday meant they abandoned their followers. Were they supposed to encourage their followers to fight to the death?

This is a stupid and irresponsible editorial.

The problem is, they DID encourage their followers to fight to the death for many weeks before their surrender.

That's why so many of the protestors were upset. They were expecting, and willing, to fight to the death.

[beejoir]

I agree that the Red Shirt leadership were foolish in not accepting Abhisit's compromise without trying to attach ridiculous conditions, but fail to understand how their surrender yesterday meant they abandoned their followers. Were they supposed to encourage their followers to fight to the death?

This is a stupid and irresponsible editorial.

Really? Seemed like most of the Red leaders ran like a bunch of little girls when the knew the movement was falling apart, just how many out of all of the leaders gave themselves in voluntarily?

[hammered]

The reds were and remain a cult.

[VanHelsing]

I agree that the Red Shirt leadership were foolish in not accepting Abhisit's compromise without trying to attach ridiculous conditions, but fail to understand how their surrender yesterday meant they abandoned their followers. Were they supposed to encourage their followers to fight to the death?

This is a stupid and irresponsible editorial.

This is NOT a stupid and irresponsible editorial.

If you are closely following the events in the last few days, there is a very clear sign of these Red Shirt demi-gods losing their grip on their radical members. I guess this is the same reason why their stupid proposal for a ceasefire was denied as they cannot even guarantee that they can stop the monster they unleashed.

Oh and of course, I guess you also missed the point when the red radio incited their brainwashed zombies to torch their own country to ashes right after the 2 poor pawn-leaders decided to surrender. Couple it with the red shirt God's recent rhetoric in CNN - "I am NOT a Red Shirt leader"

I wonder what happened to Dr. Weng Frankenstein who said that putting a child over the barricades is A-OK as long as the parents consent on it.

[wsmoh]

I agree that the Red Shirt leadership were foolish in not accepting Abhisit's compromise without trying to attach ridiculous conditions, but fail to understand how their surrender yesterday meant they abandoned their followers. Were they supposed to encourage their followers to fight to the death?

This is a stupid and irresponsible editorial.

Red shirt leaders knew by staying on the stage a bit longer they would have dangered their "own" lives. So, better off with the "red" friendly police and even though, they tried to pain a picture of self sacrifice. Now, the monster they created is out of control and they are there on the streets. I am more worried about those militants plus the useless Thai police. They both killed the feeling of safety and security in BKK.

[Thai-Aust]

I have grudging respect for Jatuporn and Nattawut - the only two leaders who did not run away, and stayed with their followers til the end.

The reason why Nattawut and Jatuporn surrendered only because Nattawut will use his MP status to get bail out soon when the parliament opens in a few days. As for Jatuporn, not sure why, probably he's the only one who braves enough. The rest of the leaders are not MP, so they flee before the police came.

[stainlessbox]

Wondered where the Reds got the idea of burning everything down?

bit.ly/9mWrEP

[LivinLOS]

Never mind Tiananmen Square, but let's imagine if this was Paris, London or New York, the reds doing what they have done, they wouldn't have lasted for more than a week.

Is it because third world countries do not deserve the same kind of civility and ground rules that we see in Western society? Being reminded of one's deep prejudices isn't pleasant.

Maybe its because you have such deeply divided loyalties you cant even count on police and military to perform tasks assigned to them, in the early stages when it could have been handled. Maybe thats why ??

[Secularist]

I agree, this editorial is very biased.

[Rideau]

On the surface the Red Shirt people only comprise peasants. Deep underneath it's the anti-royalist billionaire elites like the Jungrungruangkijs, the Mahakitsiris, and of course the Shinawatras families who fund the chaos.

[whybother]

I agree, this editorial is very biased.

Which parts are biased?

I am not necessarily disagreeing with you, but it would be good if some people gave their reasoning for their opinions rather than one line statements.

[jonclark]

If a picture speaks a thousand words this one sums up the hypocrisy of those reds who claim the protesters where peaceful

http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/thai_05_19/t22_23466709.jpg

[ferd54]

I agree, this editorial is very biased.

The Nation is part of the Yellow camp. Its Sino-Thai owners (the Yoons) have little if anything in common with the peasants of Issan. They are part of the BKK elite.

[whybother]

If the poor are uneducated, why is that? Perhaps the elites who control the country should help to educate them.

The poor of the N/NE idolise Thaksin. During his 5 years of being PM, what did he do to help the poor in the long term?

Did he help with education? Did he help with their lives?

He used cash handouts, easy credit and cheap health care to get their support. The cash handouts helped for a month or two. The easy credit just got them into more debt. The cheap health care was not funded at the hospitals, so even though the poor could afford to go to the hospital, the service they got was very poor standard.

The red "elite" - the rich village leaders and businessmen - are the ones that are keeping the farmers poor. They are the ones that give loans with huge interest that the farmers can't pay. They are the ones that give the farmers low prices for their produce.

[Fore Man]

Some of the posters here need to calm down and really think through all that has occurred since the reds took over Bangkok in March. I concur that many TV members seem to have adopted pro-red agendas and it very may well be because they have been influenced by their Thai wives....many of whom sprang from Isaan roots and whose greater families also support the red cause. They do so because of how the reds built their base of support in Isaan and in the poorer districts of the north, creating a fabric of mistruths and slowly but inexorably beating them into an anti-government frenzy. My own spouse is not from Isaan and her northern family all consists of hard-working and moral people, but even she is beginning to see that the carefully orchestrated and putative peaceful political aims of the reds have been undermined by the other, decidedly sinister side of their strategy which believes in using broad but well-camouflaged provocative violence to create fear and sow worry amongst the Thai people...all with the grand goal of returning Thaksin and his thugs to power. In the latter regard, the reds are and will continue to do so; the extent of which nobody knows at this time. This impartial link below has been posted in another TV forum but is well worth listing again. It explains a lot and I encourage all TV readers to take a close look at it:

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/LE13Ae01.html

Now is not the time to continue sniping at each other on this forum. It is a time to understand what has happened to Thailand and what led us to these sad days of infamy, and to hope and pray that the huge sectarian chasm that has been created does not drop all of us into the abyss.

Edited May 20, 2010 by Fore Man

[dobadoy]

If the poor are uneducated, why is that? Perhaps the elites who control the country should help to educate them.

Quite. Which is why Abhisit introduced free education across the entire whole school curriculum last year - a policy Thaksin never even considered.

As to other pontificators in this thread, why not put down your beer and romantic notions of class war and instead learn how to read Thai. Then you could spend time on the Thai language boards as well as the English language ones and have a better perspective on what real Thai people are actually saying and thinking.

[MCos]

If a picture speaks a thousand words this one sums up the hypocrisy of those reds who claim the protesters where peaceful

Was this what the daddy holding his kid on the barricade wanted him to see?

[dtarasin]

I agree, this editorial is very biased.

The Nation is part of the Yellow camp. Its Sino-Thai owners (the Yoons) have little if anything in common with the peasants of Issan. They are part of the BKK elite.

OOOH... that word again... BKK elite. Do you even know what that means?

Bangkok is the capitol of Thailand. If they're not allowed to be "elite" (whatever the hel_l that means), WHAT.THE.F_UCK do you suggest them to be?

Instead of throwing xenophobic labels around, why don't you address the real policy issues that disturb you?

[tominbkk]

If a picture speaks a thousand words this one sums up the hypocrisy of those reds who claim the protesters where peaceful

Was this what the daddy holding his kid on the barricade wanted him to see?

You bet it was....gotta train the little reds to enjoy death early.....

As Nuttawut said, the Reds considered the rally to be very entertaining for children....

[jayjay0]

A extremely well written article. Unusual for the nation

Only a red shirt who condones terrorism would call it biased

A true red shirt who wanted Democracy would agree with it.

They really wanted a more equal government not one based on one mans desire to rule.

[hawker9000]

The comparison to the Philippine "People Power" movement might be a good one (excepting that Abhisit cannot be in any way compared to Marcos). Oh, how idealistic Filippinos were enlisted into that with such high hopes for honest government, improvement in their quality of life, political freedom, progress and democracy. But what has the PP movement achieved, this many years later, for Filippinos? Nothing much. Manila infrastructure is in ruins. Westerners more at risk there than ever. Economic growth lagging behind the rest of SE Asia, and its benefits, limited that they are, simply raked into the pockets of the politically advantaged, of whom there are many at the trough. Political corruption is more widespread than ever; politicians live like commissars. Iconic national symbols like the Univ. of the Philippines now an embarrassment. Filippinos still scrambling for overseas positions (or emigration) in order to be able to support their families back home where domestic unemployment is (still) high. Just some new highways (and one has to ask for whose benefit were they actually built)... Oh, and perenially creative statistics at every election cycle - plenty of smoke & mirrors, "talking points", for the massses.

Thailand can expect no better from the redshirt movement. Maybe worse. There'll just be a new policital elite. A changing of the guard. An economic assault on the fledgling middle class Thailand so badly needs. Nothing more. Even if the reds all go to jail and PM Abhisit stays just where he is, I'm pretty sure some of this will still have to come about in the longer term.

[fullcave]

I agree, this editorial is very biased.

The Nation is part of the Yellow camp. Its Sino-Thai owners (the Yoons) have little if anything in common with the peasants of Issan. They are part of the BKK elite.

Got news for you mate - Thaksin is also a "Yoon".

So much for your fictitious class struggle metaphor. Next...

[bloopbloop212]

" Human Reaction towards the lost of love ones who are being murdered openly without humane justice. "

I believe the reds who have lost life with the death of their love ones and or relatives in their struggle is doing the right thing. Burning down buildings and anything that is within reach, especially government buildings.

Speaking about the red leaders, this is the 2nd time around that they have disappointed the people who have trusted them. They gave up because they don't want to loose more life.

Let's face it, they have loose more life than they thought. Are they still in a dazed or a dream to live in paradise with rewards they getting when they surrender.

The poor , simple and hot headed Ban Nok's are the victims for both occasions. Of course many people now curse and despise the red for burning down buildings.

If those out there who swear to despise and not to sympathizing with the poor Ban Nok's . Than they themselves should experience the lost of love ones and think about how they will react. Especially their love ones are murdered openly without justice.

Those who have died under the guns of non Thai armies. Is there anyone out there to seek justice for them. Any department or any lawyers willing to take up the case. Can the poor Ban Nok's afford a lawyer to fight for their rights.

No, no , no . They are being bullied and lured into fighting for democracy from those who called themselves the leader of the red protest. What have they done for the past 2 months besides giving speeches like a super star on stage.

They lack leadership, unity and strategies. When the red is at its peak in Bangkok. Why have they not taken any action to force the government to step down. Why , after going through the humiliation of loosing for the very first time when the government uses military power and guns to murdered the innocence. The leaders ask for settlement for the safety of protesters . Thar can be easily understood and acceptable.

This 2nd time around. No, no, no !!!!!!! something fishy is in the air.At this juncture who is right and wrong does not matter anymore for the rest of the truly brave protester .

They wants equal, they wants to be heard, they wants revenge for their love ones who have died under tons of bullets . If government can spend those budget on snipers, bullets and hiring of neighboring soldiers. Than the government should have budget to rebuild the city.

To those who dares speaks bad and despise the remainder of the few brave reds who dares to walk the extra miles of burning down buildings.

Just ask yourself who started the battle. Who started the shooting, who are using the snipers to gun down and murder their enemies. How many innocence have died , murdered under the firearms of hired armies.

If the reds are not provoked they are peacefully protesting without arms and burning of tires to defend themselves.

Before anyone starts to think badly of the remaining true brave reds who did what they are doing.Ask , if your love ones , relatives and friends who died under the guns of the armies and government. What would you do, how will you seek justice for them. And if knowing, there is no justice what other actions will you take ?????

Bloop

[ukinbkk]

The reds were and remain a cult.

Unbelieavable, what a stupid statement from someone who is clearly in need of medical attention. Bankrolled by Takky, brainwashed by the so called "we'll fight to the end mob", 1st sign of real danger for them and they ran into the arms of authorities like little girls showing their real true colours. They left their supporters that they whipped up into a frenzy to deal with the incoming army knowing that they were safely out of the line of fire.

This just shows everyone that by their actions what they think about above all else is themselves, no one else, they put their own safety paramount above all else not giving a 2nd thought for what they left behind. They have incited hatread, violence, arson, death, looting and divide. For this they should be sentenced on an equal scale to the destruction and deverstation they have caused for the good people of this country and damage to property. Hopefully they wont see the light of day for a long time to come.

I want to see Thailand get back to normality (when people can go about their everyday business without being threatened & imtimidated), where businesses can run as normal.

People/businesses of Bangkok have been held hostage by these mobs for the past 2 mths and this is exactly what they are mobs running amok. Shoot the arsonists, looters, rioters because this is the only laungage they understand.