Abhisit - A Prime Minister Tried By War

[yoshiwara]

Also agreed.

They had the brass ring and threw it away...

Thaksin wanted power and his revenge, he could have had both...

now just revenge and ignomy.

Oh and some seriously powerful and pissed off business interests

that now want his head on a platter.

My take is slightly different.

I believe the red leadership were ready to make a deal.

They knew their numbers were dropping and the initiative was slipping.

They hadn't worked everything through, but thought they were still ahead.

What they did not realise however, was that Thaksin had a separate line into Seh Daeng who openly campaigned against the deal.

Thaksin was stabbing them in the back and the leadership was potentially slipping from red to black.

They were losing face.

Whether Seh Daeng was taken out by an army sharpshooter or the red leadership doesn't matter. At that moment it suited both sides.

For the red leadership however, they were unable to switch off the Thaksin/Seh Daeng tap.

Surrender came quickly.

Thaksin started the current campaign to revisit his 2006 attempt to capture the army leadership positions.

Without this option an election later this year was no good to him.

Democracy was never his objective.

Capturing state power was.

Thaksin's message was and is ...'give me state power or I will make it more expensive for you to say no'

The reds have never had any economic programme. Thaksin has been careful to make sure that they never had one.

His influence rests on largesse.

Give me support and I will provide you largesse.

So, no economic class demands.

Only destruction and looting.

Sure, there will be outbreaks of bombings from the residual reds.

But as a co-ordinated force they are broken.

Thaksin will now be in a rage.

He will know that his time window will not be achieved.

And the people of Bangkok are today out on the streets cleaning up the mess.

His mess.

Edited May 23, 2010 by yoshiwara

[drken]

Abhisit has one great chance to salvage his legacy and possibly come out of this a national hero. Pardon the Red Shirt leaders and sit down with them and invite them into the government. They have become a true political movement and do not need any association with Thaksin. In fact the Red Shirt Leaders need to disavow any asssociation with Thaksin and work with Abhisit. Suthep,Kasit and Korn and any leaders associated with the fascist PAD movement must be jettisoned from the government. Abhisit seems to want to move in this direction but the reactionaries around him want to push him to be a hard ass. Remember he is a formally trained economist in the great tradition of Adam Smith. He has the potential to deliver what Thailand really needs. I hope he can find the courage to follow what seems to be his instinct. I do believe it is possible for him to be the leader of a national reconciliation. Thaksin and the PAD represent Thailands ugly past. Let Abhisit represent its future.

A number of problems:

1. It means forgetting about the law and forgetting about the victims of these people's crimes. I know victims are not fashionable especially when they are victims of the reds but......

2. It may please the red supporters but it would utterly inflame virtually everyone who wasnt a red and therefore wouldnt have anything to do with reconcilliation but just pandering to one side. Reconcillaition will only be done by involving every group to include a literal majority. Pluralistic democracy where some party gets a majority based on about 32% of the electorate will not solve this either. Neither the red shirts nor their PTP allies nor Abhisit represent a majority of the electorate.

3. It sets a precedent of if you dont like the government then blockade a lump of the business sector, intimidate everyone around there, fire grenades at targets every night and if the authorities move in then burn everything you can and tell your supporters that journalists, firefighters and medics are legitimate targets

Those who seek peace always face those who say it is caving in and will cause calamity. Same people scream how could Obama offer to talk with Iran. But of course peace is always obtained through conciliation not intimidation. Examples Britain and the USA. USA and China.

1. We are speaking about the leaders of the reds, Veera, Weng, Jatuporn etc. They led protests. They did not encourage violence.

2. The reds dont just represent one little side. They represent the mass of the population

3. That precedent was already set by the PAD

[gl9999]

Those who seek peace always face those who say it is caving in and will cause calamity. Same people scream how could Obama offer to talk with Iran. But of course peace is always obtained through conciliation not intimidation. Examples Britain and the USA. USA and China.

1. We are speaking about the leaders of the reds, Veera, Weng, Jatuporn etc. They led protests. They did not encourage violence.

2. The reds dont just represent one little side. They represent the mass of the population

3. That precedent was already set by the PAD

1. Hahahahahahahaha!

2. Even if they had 100,000 people (which they didn't) come to Bangkok, it's hardly the 'mass of the population'. The Red propaganda machine likes to spew out bullshit about how they represent the majority of the Thai people but the fact is, while a lot of people support them, it's not as many as they believe or want other people to believe.

3. I don't recall the PAD firing M79 grenades, or shooting at firemen. They sure as hel_l didn't burn down any buildings.

[jdinasia]

Abhisit has one great chance to salvage his legacy and possibly come out of this a national hero. Pardon the Red Shirt leaders and sit down with them and invite them into the government. They have become a true political movement and do not need any association with Thaksin. In fact the Red Shirt Leaders need to disavow any asssociation with Thaksin and work with Abhisit. Suthep,Kasit and Korn and any leaders associated with the fascist PAD movement must be jettisoned from the government. Abhisit seems to want to move in this direction but the reactionaries around him want to push him to be a hard ass. Remember he is a formally trained economist in the great tradition of Adam Smith. He has the potential to deliver what Thailand really needs. I hope he can find the courage to follow what seems to be his instinct. I do believe it is possible for him to be the leader of a national reconciliation. Thaksin and the PAD represent Thailands ugly past. Let Abhisit represent its future.

A number of problems:

1. It means forgetting about the law and forgetting about the victims of these people's crimes. I know victims are not fashionable especially when they are victims of the reds but......

2. It may please the red supporters but it would utterly inflame virtually everyone who wasnt a red and therefore wouldnt have anything to do with reconcilliation but just pandering to one side. Reconcillaition will only be done by involving every group to include a literal majority. Pluralistic democracy where some party gets a majority based on about 32% of the electorate will not solve this either. Neither the red shirts nor their PTP allies nor Abhisit represent a majority of the electorate.

3. It sets a precedent of if you dont like the government then blockade a lump of the business sector, intimidate everyone around there, fire grenades at targets every night and if the authorities move in then burn everything you can and tell your supporters that journalists, firefighters and medics are legitimate targets

Those who seek peace always face those who say it is caving in and will cause calamity. Same people scream how could Obama offer to talk with Iran. But of course peace is always obtained through conciliation not intimidation. Examples Britain and the USA. USA and China.

1. We are speaking about the leaders of the reds, Veera, Weng, Jatuporn etc. They led protests. They did not encourage violence.

2. The reds dont just represent one little side. They represent the mass of the population

3. That precedent was already set by the PAD

1) You apparently never listened to Veera Weng and particularly jatuporn. They did in fact encourage violence (though veera did it the least of those three!)

2)The reds represent what mass of population? Many people in the NE and N were sympathetic in the past and are not now. Even in the heart if Isaan only 50% of the population agreed that the government should be dissolved immediately and that was the Red's only point for this rally.

3) PAD didn't do what you are claiming they did. The leaders haven't been pardoned and didn't run away.

[Thai at Heart]

And whilst no one was watching, the Chinese familys who run this country, have won.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/ID27Ae01.html

Whom are we talking about precisely?

QUOTE

I would call them the old feudalists. The feudal elite, people like the [Kasikorn Bank founders] Lamsam family, those types. They were beginning to see their power base decline slowly. When they saw Thaksin start intervening in areas that no politician [before] dared to intervene in, which included military reshuffles, they got even more scared.

QUOTE

Why's that?

Well, because I can command the people. You see I have a different way of looking at things. Politically, I always believe that if I can get the middle classes all across the country to be on my side, the middle classes are the ones who suffer most, whose rights have been infringed upon, who have been taxed to the hilt, who haven't been given a chance or opportunity to get what they deserve.

Then here I came and they all came out because I represent them. Ninety percent of the middle class have Chinese blood. They look up at me and say, he is my man who dares to speak on my behalf. And I sincerely believe and still do that if we can organize this middle class well, arouse their political rights, telling them that they have rights as much as the elite have, it's time to get up and protect our rights, that is a threat.

So there was an ethnic-Chinese component to your anti-government rallies?

Of course. Their biggest mistake after kicking Thaksin out, instead of allying with me and agreeing with me that there is a need to reform the whole country, they look at me as a threat. So they cut me off.

Sorry to cut through all the BS, but i hoped and have finally given up on this website to provide me any more understanding of how this country REALLY works. Not a single word i have heard for the last 6 months on this chatroom has contributed a single titbit(except one phone call from a more esteemed member of this discussion room) to helping me really understand better how this country works . I am tired of waiting to find the links, innuendos and obvious statements that I believe are there. I am tired of hoping that someone here could provide me with something that I couldn't read in a newspaper.

This came out of the guys mouth 2 or 3 years ago and you all sit around and argue here and there about this and that whilst it is all in front of your faces if you just dig and remember what people say. And people wonder why his car was riddled with bullets?

We are in the middle of a Chinese turf war. Some people allied one way, some people allied another. Some people paid more, some people didn't pay enough. The last great piece to land, after a great man passes away.

I really hope people would have the time to actually read some book about SE Asia and understand why 75 to 90% of the wealth of SE Asia is in the hands of so few. It is because, under the guise of democracy they have made or bought slaves of the politicians and their constituents.

I was hoping that someone could read between all the lines of rubbish that I trawl though everyday, and no one has any insight.........................................................................

...... beyond Yellow sometimes good/sometimes bad/probably awful/minor terrorists/, red sometimes ok/good/probably awful/arsonists/worthy of shooting on sight.

Oh how simple minded we all are. Sondhi is probably laughing and rubbing his war wounds at us all.

And it took me 5 years of frustration and silence before I wrote this, so I don't expect the BBC to find it in a day.

[lannarebirth]

And whilst no one was watching, the Chinese familys who run this country, have won.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/ID27Ae01.html

Whom are we talking about precisely?

QUOTE

I would call them the old feudalists. The feudal elite, people like the [Kasikorn Bank founders] Lamsam family, those types. They were beginning to see their power base decline slowly. When they saw Thaksin start intervening in areas that no politician [before] dared to intervene in, which included military reshuffles, they got even more scared.

QUOTE

Why's that?

Well, because I can command the people. You see I have a different way of looking at things. Politically, I always believe that if I can get the middle classes all across the country to be on my side, the middle classes are the ones who suffer most, whose rights have been infringed upon, who have been taxed to the hilt, who haven't been given a chance or opportunity to get what they deserve.

Then here I came and they all came out because I represent them. Ninety percent of the middle class have Chinese blood. They look up at me and say, he is my man who dares to speak on my behalf. And I sincerely believe and still do that if we can organize this middle class well, arouse their political rights, telling them that they have rights as much as the elite have, it's time to get up and protect our rights, that is a threat.

So there was an ethnic-Chinese component to your anti-government rallies?

Of course. Their biggest mistake after kicking Thaksin out, instead of allying with me and agreeing with me that there is a need to reform the whole country, they look at me as a threat. So they cut me off.

Sorry to cut through all the BS, but i hoped and have finally given up on this website to provide me any more understanding of how this country REALLY works. Not a single word i have heard for the last 6 months on this chatroom has contributed a single titbit(except one phone call from a more esteemed member of this discussion room) to helping me really understand better how this country works . I am tired of waiting to find the links, innuendos and obvious statements that I believe are there. I am tired of hoping that someone here could provide me with something that I couldn't read in a newspaper.

This came out of the guys mouth 2 or 3 years ago and you all sit around and argue here and there about this and that whilst it is all in front of your faces if you just dig and remember what people say. And people wonder why his car was riddled with bullets?

We are in the middle of a Chinese turf war. Some people allied one way, some people allied another. Some people paid more, some people didn't pay enough. The last great piece to land, after a great man passes away.

I really hope people would have the time to actually read some book about SE Asia and understand why 75 to 90% of the wealth of SE Asia is in the hands of so few. It is because, under the guise of democracy they have made or bought slaves of the politicians and their constituents.

I was hoping that someone could read between all the lines of rubbish that I trawl though everyday, and no one has any insight.........................................................................

...... beyond Yellow sometimes good/sometimes bad/probably awful/minor terrorists/, red sometimes ok/good/probably awful/arsonists/worthy of shooting on sight.

Oh how simple minded we all are. Sondhi is probably laughing and rubbing his war wounds at us all.

And it took me 5 years of frustration and silence before I wrote this, so I don't expect the BBC to find it in a day.

Congratulations for putting some of the pieces together for yourself. I remember when that piece was published and of course it was discussed here. Things aren't really as black and white (red or yellow for that matter) as you describe but most everything can add to ones perspective. The irony of course is, Abhisit is more red than Thaksin and Thaksin is more yellow than Abhisit.

Edited May 24, 2010 by lannarebirth

[Thai at Heart]

And whilst no one was watching, the Chinese familys who run this country, have won.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/ID27Ae01.html

Whom are we talking about precisely?

QUOTE

I would call them the old feudalists. The feudal elite, people like the [Kasikorn Bank founders] Lamsam family, those types. They were beginning to see their power base decline slowly. When they saw Thaksin start intervening in areas that no politician [before] dared to intervene in, which included military reshuffles, they got even more scared.

QUOTE

Why's that?

Well, because I can command the people. You see I have a different way of looking at things. Politically, I always believe that if I can get the middle classes all across the country to be on my side, the middle classes are the ones who suffer most, whose rights have been infringed upon, who have been taxed to the hilt, who haven't been given a chance or opportunity to get what they deserve.

Then here I came and they all came out because I represent them. Ninety percent of the middle class have Chinese blood. They look up at me and say, he is my man who dares to speak on my behalf. And I sincerely believe and still do that if we can organize this middle class well, arouse their political rights, telling them that they have rights as much as the elite have, it's time to get up and protect our rights, that is a threat.

So there was an ethnic-Chinese component to your anti-government rallies?

Of course. Their biggest mistake after kicking Thaksin out, instead of allying with me and agreeing with me that there is a need to reform the whole country, they look at me as a threat. So they cut me off.

Sorry to cut through all the BS, but i hoped and have finally given up on this website to provide me any more understanding of how this country REALLY works. Not a single word i have heard for the last 6 months on this chatroom has contributed a single titbit(except one phone call from a more esteemed member of this discussion room) to helping me really understand better how this country works . I am tired of waiting to find the links, innuendos and obvious statements that I believe are there. I am tired of hoping that someone here could provide me with something that I couldn't read in a newspaper.

This came out of the guys mouth 2 or 3 years ago and you all sit around and argue here and there about this and that whilst it is all in front of your faces if you just dig and remember what people say. And people wonder why his car was riddled with bullets?

We are in the middle of a Chinese turf war. Some people allied one way, some people allied another. Some people paid more, some people didn't pay enough. The last great piece to land, after a great man passes away.

I really hope people would have the time to actually read some book about SE Asia and understand why 75 to 90% of the wealth of SE Asia is in the hands of so few. It is because, under the guise of democracy they have made or bought slaves of the politicians and their constituents.

I was hoping that someone could read between all the lines of rubbish that I trawl though everyday, and no one has any insight.........................................................................

...... beyond Yellow sometimes good/sometimes bad/probably awful/minor terrorists/, red sometimes ok/good/probably awful/arsonists/worthy of shooting on sight.

Oh how simple minded we all are. Sondhi is probably laughing and rubbing his war wounds at us all.

And it took me 5 years of frustration and silence before I wrote this, so I don't expect the BBC to find it in a day.

Congratulations for putting some of the pieces together for yourself. I remember when that piece was published and of course it was discussed here. Things aren't really as black and white (red or yellow for that matter) as you describe but most everything can add to ones perspective. The irony of course is, Abhisit is more red than Thaksin and Thaksin is more yellow than Abhisit.

The irony of course is, Abhisit is more red than Thaksin and Thaksin is more yellow than Abhisit.

Before I fall over myself with twisted legs, I think a statement like that deserves some clarification.

This is not a game of left or right wing, it is for the votes of the people, either bought or compelled.

This is why when the discussion is brought down to left or right wing it doesn't fit. A billionaire capitalist with a heart for the poor, an elitist educated politician trying to give tax payers money to the poor.

The only answer is to WIN and have POWER

UNDER THE GUISE OF DEMOCRACY

Edited May 24, 2010 by Thai at Heart

[lannarebirth]

And whilst no one was watching, the Chinese familys who run this country, have won.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/ID27Ae01.html

Whom are we talking about precisely?

QUOTE

I would call them the old feudalists. The feudal elite, people like the [Kasikorn Bank founders] Lamsam family, those types. They were beginning to see their power base decline slowly. When they saw Thaksin start intervening in areas that no politician [before] dared to intervene in, which included military reshuffles, they got even more scared.

QUOTE

Why's that?

Well, because I can command the people. You see I have a different way of looking at things. Politically, I always believe that if I can get the middle classes all across the country to be on my side, the middle classes are the ones who suffer most, whose rights have been infringed upon, who have been taxed to the hilt, who haven't been given a chance or opportunity to get what they deserve.

Then here I came and they all came out because I represent them. Ninety percent of the middle class have Chinese blood. They look up at me and say, he is my man who dares to speak on my behalf. And I sincerely believe and still do that if we can organize this middle class well, arouse their political rights, telling them that they have rights as much as the elite have, it's time to get up and protect our rights, that is a threat.

So there was an ethnic-Chinese component to your anti-government rallies?

Of course. Their biggest mistake after kicking Thaksin out, instead of allying with me and agreeing with me that there is a need to reform the whole country, they look at me as a threat. So they cut me off.

Sorry to cut through all the BS, but i hoped and have finally given up on this website to provide me any more understanding of how this country REALLY works. Not a single word i have heard for the last 6 months on this chatroom has contributed a single titbit(except one phone call from a more esteemed member of this discussion room) to helping me really understand better how this country works . I am tired of waiting to find the links, innuendos and obvious statements that I believe are there. I am tired of hoping that someone here could provide me with something that I couldn't read in a newspaper.

This came out of the guys mouth 2 or 3 years ago and you all sit around and argue here and there about this and that whilst it is all in front of your faces if you just dig and remember what people say. And people wonder why his car was riddled with bullets?

We are in the middle of a Chinese turf war. Some people allied one way, some people allied another. Some people paid more, some people didn't pay enough. The last great piece to land, after a great man passes away.

I really hope people would have the time to actually read some book about SE Asia and understand why 75 to 90% of the wealth of SE Asia is in the hands of so few. It is because, under the guise of democracy they have made or bought slaves of the politicians and their constituents.

I was hoping that someone could read between all the lines of rubbish that I trawl though everyday, and no one has any insight.........................................................................

...... beyond Yellow sometimes good/sometimes bad/probably awful/minor terrorists/, red sometimes ok/good/probably awful/arsonists/worthy of shooting on sight.

Oh how simple minded we all are. Sondhi is probably laughing and rubbing his war wounds at us all.

And it took me 5 years of frustration and silence before I wrote this, so I don't expect the BBC to find it in a day.

Congratulations for putting some of the pieces together for yourself. I remember when that piece was published and of course it was discussed here. Things aren't really as black and white (red or yellow for that matter) as you describe but most everything can add to ones perspective. The irony of course is, Abhisit is more red than Thaksin and Thaksin is more yellow than Abhisit.

The irony of course is, Abhisit is more red than Thaksin and Thaksin is more yellow than Abhisit.

Before I fall over myself with twisted legs, I think a statement like that deserves some clarification.

This is not a game of left or right wing, it is for the votes of the people, either bought or compelled.

This is why when the discussion is brought down to left or right wing it doesn't fit. A billionaire capitalist with a heart for the poor, an elitist educated politician trying to give tax payers money to the poor.

The only answer is to WIN and have POWER

I'm not sure if you lived here for the totality of the Thaksin regime but having "a heart for the poor" is certainly not how I would describe him. Even a lot of Thaksin supporters wouldn't be so bold as to proclaim that, though I know many would. I'm not sure why you call Abhisit elitist either as he has done more for the long term interests of the poor and against the interests of the monied elite than Thaksin ever did. As for your last sentance you can see for yourself who is in and who is out of power

[hughben]

I can't see any on the red shirts side accepting anything while Abhisit is at the helm.

In the next elections (if there are any) he'll be gone no matter what.

[rubl]

Is this less or more than taking campaign donations or bribing voters.

I vote MUCH more.... what does the constitution say I wonder.

Conspiracy to insurrection and terrorism...

Should be a good clause against that somewhere.

Fortunately you don't have a vote (like me).

....... and there should be lots of good clauses in the constitution, but unfortunately there aren't - just a good many loopholes.

When a constitution is watertight it's probably time to make changes. If a (social) community is changing the constitution should follow suit. Probably not really that quickly, but a constitution which cannot change will became like a straight-jacket.

[Roadman]

I can't see any on the red shirts side accepting anything while Abhisit is at the helm.

In the next elections (if there are any) he'll be gone no matter what.

He might be gone and he might not be, and he fully understands that as it is the principles of democracy he is building on. I would not count him out as there will be many turned off especially in the provincial city middle classes by the Red Shirts and the Red Shirts alone do not comprise the total vote of Issan.

The most important safe guard for Thailand that will be done before the next elections will be Anupong's successor will be appointed and in place to safeguard the country from lunatic's like Thaksin and Sae Duaeng ever getting control over what is thankfully, the final arbitrator in Thailand whether people like it not.

Then there is also the time frame now with elections back to late 2011 for the Roadmap to be worked through and more buy in to it from those disgruntled. Of course there will be still those who will chose to live by primitive jungle law instead of wishing to work for improvement.

And as usual the Reds will be up to their usual stupid tricks of block buying votes that will see their seat count reduced.

Gone no matter what? Would not count on it but at least the country will be safe with Army watch over through the democratic process of elections and beyond.

[clown]

I can't see any on the red shirts side accepting anything while Abhisit is at the helm.

In the next elections (if there are any) he'll be gone no matter what.

He might be gone and he might not be, and he fully understands that as it is the principles of democracy he is building on. I would not count him out as there will be many turned off especially in the provincial city middle classes by the Red Shirts and the Red Shirts alone do not comprise the total vote of Issan.

The most important safe guard for Thailand that will be done before the next elections will be Anupong's successor will be appointed and in place to safeguard the country from lunatic's like Thaksin and Sae Duaeng ever getting control over what is thankfully, the final arbitrator in Thailand whether people like it not.

Then there is also the time frame now with elections back to late 2011 for the Roadmap to be worked through and more buy in to it from those disgruntled. Of course there will be still those who will chose to live by primitive jungle law instead of wishing to work for improvement.

And as usual the Reds will be up to their usual stupid tricks of block buying votes that will see their seat count reduced.

Gone no matter what? Would not count on it but at least the country will be safe with Army watch over through the democratic process of elections and beyond.

What good are elections if there is a "safe guard" in place to do a coup just in case the person elected isn't the one a few select individuals had in mind?

Might as well make it an election like in China where you have 1 party on the ballot. Or better yet, declare a total dictatorship and spare the people of even walking to the polls.

[gl9999]

I can't see any on the red shirts side accepting anything while Abhisit is at the helm.

In the next elections (if there are any) he'll be gone no matter what.

He might be gone and he might not be, and he fully understands that as it is the principles of democracy he is building on. I would not count him out as there will be many turned off especially in the provincial city middle classes by the Red Shirts and the Red Shirts alone do not comprise the total vote of Issan.

The most important safe guard for Thailand that will be done before the next elections will be Anupong's successor will be appointed and in place to safeguard the country from lunatic's like Thaksin and Sae Duaeng ever getting control over what is thankfully, the final arbitrator in Thailand whether people like it not.

Then there is also the time frame now with elections back to late 2011 for the Roadmap to be worked through and more buy in to it from those disgruntled. Of course there will be still those who will chose to live by primitive jungle law instead of wishing to work for improvement.

And as usual the Reds will be up to their usual stupid tricks of block buying votes that will see their seat count reduced.

Gone no matter what? Would not count on it but at least the country will be safe with Army watch over through the democratic process of elections and beyond.

What good are elections if there is a "safe guard" in place to do a coup just in case the person elected isn't the one a few select individuals had in mind?

Might as well make it an election like in China where you have 1 party on the ballot. Or better yet, declare a total dictatorship and spare the people of even walking to the polls.

Well in Thaksin's case, the coup brought down a thief and a murderer of almost 3000 Thai citizens. In Western democracies, he would have been impeached and charged in court long ago. Unfortunately, things don't work like that here. Therefore, in this case, the military really did do it's job as a 'safe guard'.

Just because a person is popular among misguided people doesn't mean he isn't scum that deserves to stay in power.

[SomTumTiger]

I can't see any on the red shirts side accepting anything while Abhisit is at the helm.

In the next elections (if there are any) he'll be gone no matter what.

Maybe, maybe not, but he should make all you Red lovers WAIT until his term expires in Dec. 2011. That is what civilized people do, they vote them out, they don't BURN them out.

[yoshiwara]

I can't see any on the red shirts side accepting anything while Abhisit is at the helm.

In the next elections (if there are any) he'll be gone no matter what.

Nobody cares what you red shirts want any more.

You have shown your face.

No matter what, you are now gone from Bangkok.

The clean-up has begun.

Edited May 26, 2010 by yoshiwara

[yoshiwara]

I can't see any on the red shirts side accepting anything while Abhisit is at the helm.

In the next elections (if there are any) he'll be gone no matter what.

He might be gone and he might not be, and he fully understands that as it is the principles of democracy he is building on. I would not count him out as there will be many turned off especially in the provincial city middle classes by the Red Shirts and the Red Shirts alone do not comprise the total vote of Issan.

The most important safe guard for Thailand that will be done before the next elections will be Anupong's successor will be appointed and in place to safeguard the country from lunatic's like Thaksin and Sae Duaeng ever getting control over what is thankfully, the final arbitrator in Thailand whether people like it not.

Then there is also the time frame now with elections back to late 2011 for the Roadmap to be worked through and more buy in to it from those disgruntled. Of course there will be still those who will chose to live by primitive jungle law instead of wishing to work for improvement.

And as usual the Reds will be up to their usual stupid tricks of block buying votes that will see their seat count reduced.

Gone no matter what? Would not count on it but at least the country will be safe with Army watch over through the democratic process of elections and beyond.

What good are elections if there is a "safe guard" in place to do a coup just in case the person elected isn't the one a few select individuals had in mind?

Might as well make it an election like in China where you have 1 party on the ballot. Or better yet, declare a total dictatorship and spare the people of even walking to the polls.

Still snarling reds though some with a funny face to disguise their wish to continue the burning.

For some the face paint looks like the smoke from burning tyres.

'The' person they have in mind is Thaksin.

Architect of destruction.

We know what he leads to now.

A walk of death.

[SomTumTiger]

Funny - Abhisit is going to appoint an independent panel to investigate the violence of the Red Protest. Isn't that one of his "Roadmap" steps towards reconcilliation? You mean he is actually doing what he says he will do? How very un-Thai politician.