Battle In Bangkok - This Is No Peasant's Revolt

[djvolak]

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

bit.ly/9mWrEP

They had a list of specific targets and some free reign on the fires of course. I think if you look at some of the targets of the arson the picture is quite clear. Just most people are not looking at it being targeted arson. Who was on the stage relating Mr Taksins message to burn burn burn. All goes back to one man in the end. No in any danger wandering around buying expensive gifts for his daughter in France now is he.

[xenomorph]

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............

majority rules and wins? majority does not mean they are correct! and Isan folks are not so ill-educated as you seem to think ... please to not speak for others ... and do not underestimate people ... btw, there was absolutely no reason for the military to use real ammunition! riot gear, tear gas would have been enough!!!

Water spray against grenade launchers, snipers and AK-47's? Are you serious??

I've always wondered how it feels to be so stupid like many of the red sympathizers here are. How does the world look like through the eyes of such? Guess the world must be very strange, since lots of things and events that happens doesn't looks "logical" to them. They simply need to follow a weired, crazy or sick cause in order to make their life meaningful. Something they believe they understand. Something that makes logic in their twisted brain. Some of them ends up in religious sects. Others in sick movements in the political or terroristic area. It doesn't help explaining to those what is good, bad and logical. The conversation always goes in circles and gets back to the same spot where it started from. It just doesn't help talking those to sense.

Against idiots and lunatics, a normal healthy person does not stand a chance with reason.

.

[yesdavy]

Perhaps, the reason for confusion is that a coup is 180* opposite of democracy since a coup is the unconstitutional overthrow of a government by a small contingent of special interests, i.e., military and civilian stakeholders--regardless of caretaker status since democratic options are available, such as snap elections. Given a majority, votes can change the direction of a government democratically. Without a majority, illegal, unconstitutional overthrow is the option. A coup state lacks majority support and is not recognized as legitimate by anyone anywhere because it allows the coup to stack the courts, election committees, law enforcement, and military. This may be why it is confusing to talk about MPs being duly elected, and non-coup PMs being removed on technicalities.

"Snap elections"?

The constitution states that an election should have been held within 6 months of the failed 2006 election.

It was Thaksin's job, as care-taker PM, to organise those elections. He failed to do that within the time frame. But he kept on being care-taker PM. There was no way to get rid of him. That is the main reason the army stepped in.

Please understand that I really don't feel aligned with either side since I am a guest in this country. In the search for understanding and facts, how is it that no coup was required to remove Somsak and Somchai? Aren't elections controlled by an election committee? How is a candidate responsible for an election in which he would run?

[Steely Dan]

What was burned undoubtedly proves the notion that this was pre-planned. Of all the banks that were burned, the overwhelming majority were Bangkok Banks. <snip>

A couple of brief histories:

Chin Sophonpanich was the founder of Bangkok Bank.

Born to a Chinese immigrant father and a Thai mother in Thonburi (Chinatown), Chin's daughter-in-law, the Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich, wife of Chote Sophonpanich, is currently serving as the Thai Democrat Party's Minister of Science and Technology.

Tiang Chirathivat was the founder of Central Group.

In 1927 22-year-old Tiang traversed the sea from Hainan in Mainland China to settle down in Siam. He married Khun Whan and had the first child. The family business began as a tiny retail outlet in Thonburi (Chinatown). The store moved to Charoen Krung Road, at the corner of Captain Bush Lane in Bangkok's Si Phraya district. The single unit shophouse sold a large variety of local and international newspapers and magazines and carried the name "Central Trading Store, the first chapter of Central Department Stores history.

Immigrant bashing - congrats you are now a US Republican!

It's very interesting now that it is becoming harder and harder to justify the red actions (although a shocking number of their cheerleaders are excusing the arson), they are now turning back to bashing the "elites" and attaching an ethnic side to it. So a few questions to those who want to get rid of the elites, seemingly by any means. Are we defining the elites by ethnicity? If so, how many generations are we going back? And should we be measuring facial features and skin color in our determination? Or do we use economic determiners - money in the bank, size of home, car, brand of clothing? What about education - educated people are elite. And who are the judges of who is elite? And what do we do with those we brand "elite"? Beginning to sound a lot like the folks in Cambodia in '75?

Agreed, these class war obsessed Maoists could go down the Pol Pot route if given the chance, they mention the word democracy a lot but their actions are and always have been anything but democratic. Selling your vote is to perpetuate a feudal style system and to shoot, bomb or otherwise intimidate people of other political parties stinks of fascism, as does the thinly veiled undercurrent of racism and scapegoating towards Farrang and Sino-Thais.

Idi Amin in Uganda cleared out the asian population and Robert Mugabe cleared out the white farmers and both spectacularly flushed their economies down the toilet. Do the so called rural poor want to go down any of these routes? Perhaps removing the chip from their own shoulders would be more productive.

[DrThomas]

Unfortunately there is nothng quite as radicalising as having fellow protestors falling dead and wounded. The redshirt camp contained large boards with photographs of casualties. I haven't seen a recent definitive count of the total number of deaths, but would be surprised if it is less than 50. In some cases bodies are being sent home to Isaan - two to Sisaket about two days ago.The army has suffered relatively few fataliities. As the reports have said, this has enraged the protesters. I saw film yesterday of young men running as troops fired bursts at their departing backs, killing one, and wondered what those who got away would want to do next. A hot-headed minority have become rioters, pulled in some very undesirable urban elements, and damaging their own cause. But for those watching from Isaan the picture still looks very different than it does to a businessman or expat in Bangkok. They feel a sense of deep injustice - their blood against Bangkok's property. To me the crackdown has been a disaster. We've got to a place that nobody would want to have started from, and there is a risk that things will get worse before they get better.

Latest figures I have are 74 dead, 2 of them soldiers. (This is not including the 7 found in the temple this morning.)

[way2muchcoffee]

I've posted this map before, but some people are more interested in expressing their wishful thinking than in facts. Here are the results of the most recent elections by province:

and here are the numbers:

Party Constituency Proportional TOTAL Seats

People's Power Party 34 233

Democrat Party 165

Thai Nation Party 37

For the Motherland 24

Thais United National Development Party 9

Neutral Democratic Party 7

Royalist People's Party 5

Valid votes 71,772,667* 100 400 35,535,767 100 80 480 No Votes 906,216 2.32

Invalid Votes 2,539,429 6.51

Total Turnout 38,981,412 85.38

After the by-elections to replace disqualified Party List candidates, the PPP's replacement party (PT) had fewer than 200 seats. I might also point out that NONE of the PT MP's were elected as members of that party!

When you post these numbers in terms of seats obtained only, the truth of the results is unfortunately obfuscated. Please look at the actual percentages in terms of votes and voters. Folks can have a look here to understand the true nature of the comparison of popularity amongst the political parties in the 2007 General Elections.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_general_election,_2007

Edited May 20, 2010 by way2muchcoffee

[ferd54]

So its okay to burn down entire shopping malls because someone doesn't give a &lt;deleted&gt; about me or treat me equally?<snip>Being angry at someone doesn't give me the right to go punch them in the face or burn down their business.

Maybe not, but I for one wouldn't waste the breath it would take to point out their rights have been violated.

(And in fact, you indeed saw what happened to the Kennedy clan.)

[DrThomas]

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............

If the majority support the government, why didn't Abhisit call an election, win it and then none of this would have happened. The blame rest firmly on his shoulders. You cannot deny people democracy year after year and expect no consequences.

You are right, in a democracy the majority rules and wins..... Democracy is NOT what is happening in Thailand. It hasn't seen democracy since the coup.

[ALFREDO]

I've always wondered how it feels to be so stupid like many of the red sympathizers here are. How does the world look like through the eyes of such? Guess the world must be very strange, since lots of things and events that happens doesn't looks "logical" to them. They simply need to follow a weired, crazy or sick cause in order to make their life meaningful. Something they believe they understand. Something that makes logic in their twisted brain. Some of them ends up in religious sects. Others in sick movements in the political or terroristic area. It doesn't help explaining to those what is good, bad and logical. The conversation always goes in circles and gets back to the same spot where it started from. It just doesn't help talking those to sense.

Against idiots and lunatics, a normal healthy person does not stand a chance with reason.

Thank you for that statement, you have my vote!

I use to post also in a German forum, of a twice monthly, Thai-German newspaper the http://www.thailandtip.de they canceled my posting possibility there more than once because it seems to be a REDs prefered forum.

And when I read your above words than I am reminded of most of the posters and Administrators there!

[Anyse]

does anyone here understand the words........law and order......and the right and duty the sitting authorities have to enforce it, if the government had acted sooner many people would still be alive right now.

Someone could have said the same thing to the Colonists who revolted against King George!

[yesdavy]

What was burned undoubtedly proves the notion that this was pre-planned. Of all the banks that were burned, the overwhelming majority were Bangkok Banks. <snip>

A couple of brief histories:

Chin Sophonpanich was the founder of Bangkok Bank.

Born to a Chinese immigrant father and a Thai mother in Thonburi (Chinatown), Chin's daughter-in-law, the Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich, wife of Chote Sophonpanich, is currently serving as the Thai Democrat Party's Minister of Science and Technology.

Tiang Chirathivat was the founder of Central Group.

In 1927 22-year-old Tiang traversed the sea from Hainan in Mainland China to settle down in Siam. He married Khun Whan and had the first child. The family business began as a tiny retail outlet in Thonburi (Chinatown). The store moved to Charoen Krung Road, at the corner of Captain Bush Lane in Bangkok's Si Phraya district. The single unit shophouse sold a large variety of local and international newspapers and magazines and carried the name "Central Trading Store, the first chapter of Central Department Stores history.

Immigrant bashing - congrats you are now a US Republican!

In the interests of truth, fact, and accuracy, please add the word illegal in front of immigrant.

[Skywalker69]

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.

You´r right, soon he will enjoy the big payment from the "headmaster" Mr.t

[SomTumTiger]

When you post these numbers in terms of seats obtained only, the truth of the results is unfortunately obfuscated. Please look at the actual percentages in terms of votes and voters. Folks can have a look here to understand the true nature of the comparison of popularity amongst the political parties in the 2007 General Elections.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_general_election,_2007

That chart doesn't seem to include Bhum Jai Thai in the color scheme. Did I miss it?

[meelousee]

The editorial is a well done oration of BS, it shows the elite have a well oiled propaganda machine that is totally irresponsible.

I can understand some of the posters frustrations you cant go to work, no darts or pool night at your fave bar, no taking the kids out to eat, pizza delivery only in a small area, no shopping, bar hopping or ogling the gals. Movies are dangerous, now no bus, sky train or subway. Taxis gouging prices and too many daily activities smashed squashed and trashed. Your daily life has been upended and inconvenienced to the max

But Remember this, the cause was just but by no means the outcome. 90% more or less do not support a return of Taksin, they only support his programs, end to the loan sharks stealing land, end to 20% over cost of seed, fertilizers and farm equipment. The list is really big! Was Taksin corrupt? Well tell me which country does not have corruption in government office.

The sugar monopoly, the rice monopoly, the rubber monopoly own manipulate the targets on fire like it or not. The only one left out is PTT which has one of the largest security cordons I have seen since the war in Vietnam, 4 APC's with F&N 7.62 heavy machine guns, 5 jeeps with M60's at least 2 companies of special branch Thai Marines. Well how come? Remember that PTT closed service stations to keep the Red Shirts out of Bangkok last month?

More short sightedness, Both airports closed down by the Yellow shirts, does anyone remember how many died? A popular politician was nearly assassinated and all of the security cameras were off? Two young men went to a Yellow shirt rally they worked for a baked food factory the uniform had red shirts they were found floating in the river the next day hands tied and badly beaten. Two more are still missing?

Lastly remember this is Thailand, cause~outcome~results~ways & means do not jive with western world standards or for that matter any other standards. They just do things different in that it only takes one grain of salt to make rice in Thailand.

Edited May 20, 2010 by meelousee

[Skywalker69]

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

bit.ly/9mWrEP

Diden´t Seh Daeng said "Bangkok will burn"? (before he bite the dirt)

[nickupton]

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............

If the majority support the government, why didn't Abhisit call an election, win it and then none of this would have happened. The blame rest firmly on his shoulders. You cannot deny people democracy year after year and expect no consequences.

You are right, in a democracy the majority rules and wins..... Democracy is NOT what is happening in Thailand. It hasn't seen democracy since the coup.

So 2 governments formed by PPP were illegal and undemocratic too? Put these alongside the illegal Thaksin government who stayed beyond the time which they were allowed to and you have 3 illegal and undemocratic governments formed by Thaksin and his crony parties.

[z9999]

does anyone here understand the words........law and order......and the right and duty the sitting authorities have to enforce it, if the government had acted sooner many people would still be alive right now.

Someone could have said the same thing to the Colonists who revolted against King George!

And how long did that last? Democracy is NOT the best form of government, in fact it may rank high among the worst when people begin to use it as a means of oppressing those they envy. Democracy tends to become Socialism, and eventually that leads us to Communism, and government gradually acquires absolute power over all facets of life along the way. Democracy gives way to the rights of the individual and replaces it with the desired rights of the majority, and mediocrity prevails.

[Bottlerocket]

I read earlier that this latest "Red Shirt" demonstration (and subsequent arsonist's paradise and bloodbath) was "a coalition of factions" and that is one of the main reasons this went out of control. Sure, you had your core protesters and then the Red Guard led by Seh Daeng who was being distanced by the others, but does anyone know about other factions that were involved in this? Apparently, they're not just the Red Shirts.

This is a tragic episode in Thailand's history and, as a resident of many years now, I'm saddened that events have taken this turn. There will be nothing but animosity and hatred for many years to come, both from the bottom up and the top down. My condolences to the people of Thailand for their losses and injuries. My hope and support for their long, difficult path on their return to stability and security.

[Skywalker69]

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.

Even the red pesants shut them self in the feet.

Many of their children is working in Bangkok and in the tourist industry sending money back to the families every month.

Due to the terrorist actions many have lost their livelyhood and no money will go up country for a long time.

[SomTumTiger]

does anyone here understand the words........law and order......and the right and duty the sitting authorities have to enforce it, if the government had acted sooner many people would still be alive right now.

Someone could have said the same thing to the Colonists who revolted against King George!

And how long did that last? Democracy is NOT the best form of government, in fact it may rank high among the worst when people begin to use it as a means of oppressing those they envy. Democracy tends to become Socialism, and eventually that leads us to Communism, and government gradually acquires absolute power over all facets of life along the way. Democracy gives way to the rights of the individual and replaces it with the desired rights of the majority, and mediocrity prevails.

It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others that have been tried. - Winston Churchill

[Jirapa]

Over 20 misspelled words... ?? BRAIN DEAD is getting "catchy" here..

It may have gone right past your 2 brain cells that the quotee might just be a citizen of the country which is accomodating your spellchecking a@@...

What a dork, honestly...

Yeah! And shouldn't it be "misspelt" being past tense of "misspell". English isn't everyones mother tongue BRAIN DEAD!

[pilotguy2007]

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.

totaly agree, what a mess this has become for all!!!

[Motoon]

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.

totaly agree, what a mess this has become for all!!!

ey, you (red) guys all established new accounts to continue to spread your propaganda? Amazing

[KMUTT]

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

Didn´t Seh Daeng said "Bangkok will burn"? (before he bite the dirt)

From one of the videos of Arisman, many of his named targets have already been hit, but there are still some remaining targets from his list that haven't been burned to the ground.

I wonder when that will occur and what the ramifications will be.

According to Arisman on this video, his list of targets for burning are:

Siriraj Hospital, All Muslim Mosques, Government House, Important Ministries, Airports, Rajavithi Road, Bridges, Bank of Thailand, Commercial Banks, Military Barracks, Court of Justice, and NGO's

will all be destroyed....

"Not one of these will remain standing."

[otherstuff1957]

When you post these numbers in terms of seats obtained only, the truth of the results is unfortunately obfuscated. Please look at the actual percentages in terms of votes and voters. Folks can have a look here to understand the true nature of the comparison of popularity amongst the political parties in the 2007 General Elections.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_general_election,_2007

That chart doesn't seem to include Bhum Jai Thai in the color scheme. Did I miss it?

You might notice that it doesn't include any Puea Thai MPs either! When the PPP was disbanded for electoral fraud (some people are calling that a judicial coup) the Party List MPs lost their seats and the Constintuency MP's had to switch to other parties. Most of them went to PT, the rest went to BJT.

By-elections were held in Jan 2008, to replace 29 of the Party List MPs (5 party executives were not replaced, reducing the number of MPs to 475) of those seats 10 went to Chart Thai Pattana (Banharn's group), 7 went to the Democrats, 5 went to Puea Thai, 4 went to Prajaraj (the Royalist Party) and 3 went to Puea Pandin.

[cougar52]

My apologies, it appears that Jatuporn is in custody, my previous post was a mistake of mine, I was reading an article from a year ago, that presented itself and I did not notice the date was 2009

So I apologize, even I can be wrong when speed is so available

Remember the old saying and rule # 1 that says I am never wrong and rule # 2 says if you disagree then go to Rule # 1:

Red Shirt leader out on MP privileges to return to face charges on May 27

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Puea Thai Party MP Jatuporn Prompan, one of the core leaders of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) has vowed to turn himself in to the police on 27 May 2010.

After being released due to his political rights, Puea Thai Party MP Jatuporn Prompan stated that he would submit to charges against him on 27 May according to Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) Tarit Pengdit.

The Director General of the DSI stated that his deparment has already lodged charges of terrorism against three UDD core leaders who surrendered to police yesterday. Those three UDD core leaders are Puea Thai Party MP Jatuporn Prompan, Mr Nattawut Saikua and Mr Kwanchai Praipana.

Police allowed Mr Jatuporn to go free due to his rights as a member of the House of Representatives. However, Mr Tarit said that Mr Jatuporn pledged that he would turn himself in to the police again near the end of this month.

Mr Tarit added that the Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Ousted ex Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and ten more UDD leaders on terrorism charges.

However, the court later suspended the arrest warrant on terrorism charges issued for Mr Thaksin for undisclosed reasons and decided to convene on the matter further on 24 May 2010 at 9.00 hrs. Mr Tarit admitted that he was surprised at the court's decision.

[SomTumTiger]

My apologies, it appears that Jatuporn is in custody, my previous post was a mistake of mine, I was reading an article from a year ago, that presented itself and I did not notice the date was 2009

So I apologize, even I can be wrong when speed is so available

Remember the old saying and rule # 1 that says I am never wrong and rule # 2 says if you disagree then go to Rule # 1:

Red Shirt leader out on MP privileges to return to face charges on May 27

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Puea Thai Party MP Jatuporn Prompan, one of the core leaders of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) has vowed to turn himself in to the police on 27 May 2010.

After being released due to his political rights, Puea Thai Party MP Jatuporn Prompan stated that he would submit to charges against him on 27 May according to Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) Tarit Pengdit.

The Director General of the DSI stated that his deparment has already lodged charges of terrorism against three UDD core leaders who surrendered to police yesterday. Those three UDD core leaders are Puea Thai Party MP Jatuporn Prompan, Mr Nattawut Saikua and Mr Kwanchai Praipana.

Police allowed Mr Jatuporn to go free due to his rights as a member of the House of Representatives. However, Mr Tarit said that Mr Jatuporn pledged that he would turn himself in to the police again near the end of this month.

Mr Tarit added that the Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Ousted ex Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and ten more UDD leaders on terrorism charges.

However, the court later suspended the arrest warrant on terrorism charges issued for Mr Thaksin for undisclosed reasons and decided to convene on the matter further on 24 May 2010 at 9.00 hrs. Mr Tarit admitted that he was surprised at the court's decision.

Yup, you were right Cougar - mea culpa

[horndevil]

My apologies, it appears that Jatuporn is in custody, my previous post was a mistake of mine, I was reading an article from a year ago, that presented itself and I did not notice the date was 2009

So I apologize, even I can be wrong when speed is so available

Remember the old saying and rule # 1 that says I am never wrong and rule # 2 says if you disagree then go to Rule # 1:

Red Shirt leader out on MP privileges to return to face charges on May 27

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Puea Thai Party MP Jatuporn Prompan, one of the core leaders of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) has vowed to turn himself in to the police on 27 May 2010.

After being released due to his political rights, Puea Thai Party MP Jatuporn Prompan stated that he would submit to charges against him on 27 May according to Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) Tarit Pengdit.

The Director General of the DSI stated that his deparment has already lodged charges of terrorism against three UDD core leaders who surrendered to police yesterday. Those three UDD core leaders are Puea Thai Party MP Jatuporn Prompan, Mr Nattawut Saikua and Mr Kwanchai Praipana.

Police allowed Mr Jatuporn to go free due to his rights as a member of the House of Representatives. However, Mr Tarit said that Mr Jatuporn pledged that he would turn himself in to the police again near the end of this month.

Mr Tarit added that the Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Ousted ex Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and ten more UDD leaders on terrorism charges.

However, the court later suspended the arrest warrant on terrorism charges issued for Mr Thaksin for undisclosed reasons and decided to convene on the matter further on 24 May 2010 at 9.00 hrs. Mr Tarit admitted that he was surprised at the court's decision.

OH &lt;deleted&gt; - these guys just went around inciting their group to burn BKK and now one of them gets to walk free unitil he "Promises" to turn him self in... I had hoped that this incident would finally give this government the balls to get tough with those that promote violoence but seems i was just day dreaming. SAD SAD SAD

[pimay11]

It's very interesting now that it is becoming harder and harder to justify the red actions (although a shocking number of their cheerleaders are excusing the arson), they are now turning back to bashing the "elites" and attaching an ethnic side to it. So a few questions to those who want to get rid of the elites, seemingly by any means. Are we defining the elites by ethnicity? If so, how many generations are we going back? And should we be measuring facial features and skin color in our determination? Or do we use economic determiners - money in the bank, size of home, car, brand of clothing? What about education - educated people are elite. And who are the judges of who is elite? And what do we do with those we brand "elite"? Beginning to sound a lot like the folks in Cambodia in '75?

I'm just laying out the facts. You can be as open-minded or naive as you want, but I assure you the Hi-So Thais don't give a flying &lt;deleted&gt; about equality for you or anyone else. I know the son isn't responsible for the father in any family, but a bit more on Chin Sophonpanich: He made a ton of money during WWII as the Japanese occupied Thailand, and afterward, when he was literally a partner in governments ruled by Army thugs; at one time he was actually the national Bank of Thailand.

Just some background on why it might be Bangkok Bank that had the fires.

So its okay to burn down entire shopping malls because someone doesn't give a &lt;deleted&gt; about me or treat me equally? I'll need a lot of gasoline. Or because they made money in a shady / immoral way? The head of the Kennedy clan made his money in bootlegging whiskey, and as ambassador to UK was in favor of giving Hitler leeway. Should we go burn down the Kennedy compound tonight? Being angry at someone doesn't give me the right to go punch them in the face or burn down their business.

If you are a red supporter it does my friend.

[Jirapa]

What like appearing on a cookery show is unconstitutional? Maybe a polititian giving flowers to burns victims in hospitals should be made unconstitutional too as that sort of good will gesture gets broadcast and is also PR.

We'll see! That was a farce not an election and most western media confront it's legitemacy. Don't know if you saw Abhisit on Hardtalk?

He didn't just *appear* on a cooking show. He was paid to host it.

The constitution says that a PM can not have more than one job. Being PM should be enough.

In addition to that, he lied in court.

But, regardless of all that, he could have been PM the very next day after being dumped. But the PPP decided to put Thaksin's brother-in-law into the position instead.

Yes and he was probably recieving income from several other hidden sources. Which polititian doesn't? I'll bet most of the present government has a few invisable fingers in a few pies!