Australian Man Arrested Over Thai Protests

[clown]

When he was first reported with the red shirts there was a photo knocking around with someone that looked like him (or it was him?) dressed for the Yellow shirts when they kidnapped the airport.

Was it the same man?

http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/8454/img6593f.jpg

Here is the photo.

To me, he looks like the same man.

Funny, why wasn't he arrested while wearing yellow?

[Fishman1967]

Surely he knew this was a potential consequence of standing up on that stage.

I take no pleasure in typing this, but..som nom na.

I totally agree. There is NO place for a foreigner in political situations inside a country that he or she is visiting.

[ozzieman05]

Why didn't anybody tell him to wear a yellow shirt instead of a red one? He would have been awarded a permanent residence instead of a jail sentence.

The truth seems to have now come out

He is a professioanal protestor

when the yellows protested he wore yellow ( proof picture this thread)

No he wears red

He is a legend in his own lunch time

He is Thai inside he says

spo lt him rot in a Thai prison

We do not want him back

[animatic]

He was probably the smallest fish in the pond, but it's a great way to bring the Thailand protests back into the foreign newspapers.

Exactly,

this puts the story squarely in english and more focus on what was actually SAID on Red Stages.

I could tell from the first moment he was seen on stage this would end badly for him...

[Tanaka]

http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/8454/img6593f.jpg

Interesting photo of him in YELLOW.

Was he at Suvarnabhumi taking part in the blockade with yellows as well?? Talk about a mental case. Fits nicely in with Taksin.

[rebo]

Many Westerners ... seem to think they are in Disneyland.

What wonder ...?

[gotlost]

Many Westerners ... seem to think they are in Disneyland.

What wonder ...?

You mean we are not?

[A_Traveller]

Many Westerners ... seem to think they are in Disneyland.

What wonder ...?

You mean we are not?

One has to recall that TAT authorised travel operations in a number of countries in the '90s were happily plugging the Kingdom as a Theme Park for adults.

Regards

[agord]

Hmm I don't really think this is a good idea. Why arrest only foreigners?

I know that he is a "farang" moron, but there are probably 20 or 30 more "Thai" moron that spoke at the rally.

yes yes this is thailand. but im still sad seeing this.

Oh, so those images shown on Australian TV of THAI 'Protestors' and Red Shirts being handcuffed, blindfolded and thrown into a dark and dingy cell - yes, the ones all the snivel libertarians and do-gooders said were outrageous and against basic human rights. I suppose they were bullshit?

Why arrest only foreigners? Good grief. There's a mug gets off the plane every minute.

No, not ONLY Farang get arrested.

More than 500 Thais have already been arrested.

Go read the papers.

Show me the news that the police go to a protester's house, and arrest them because he/she spoke at the rally.

This guy was not arrested on site.

cpofc: I meant that the speakers during the rally. Not the protesters in general.

Why are some members on here so lazy? if you want to know something look it up yourself. Arrests are ongoing, they have arrested many already - common knowledge available everywhere. Also he is NOT the same as any other protester as he is a foreigner. Why wouldn't they go and collect him?

[atyclb]

Alcoholism/chemical addiction = Hearing about this guys life and goings on I must say it is consistent with chemical addiction.

Very tragic not only for him, but for his loved ones as well. I have seen what alcoholism can do; friends, and even a family member. Perhaps being unable to drink/drug(jail) will be the best thing that could have happened to him.

The original article...

Wounded Australian on handouts takes to red shirt stage

• Published: 2/05/2010 at 01:59 AM
  
• Online news: Local News
  

Conor David Purcell, a former Australian military reservist, is a long way from home. The 29-year-old has two infected hip wounds, no money, no passport and survives on handouts from his Thai and foreign friends.

WHITE FACE IN A RED CROWD: UDD fixture Conor David Purcell. His speeches have fired up the red shirt supporters.

But when he takes to the red shirt stage at Ratchaprasong, thousands of people stop and listen attentively to the Irish-born Aussie ``military'' man as he reads his speeches, which are immediately translated into Thai.

To the red faithful, he knows what he's talking about, whether it's discrediting government accounts of the Sala Daeng grenade attacks or the "criminality" of the April 10 bloodshed near the Democracy Monument.

The red shirt leaders nod their approval at Mr Purcell, who claims to have done "quite extensive" work with the Australian Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) and trained with the Singapore and Malaysia military.

"I don't think I should fight,'' Mr Purcell said when asked about his role with the red shirts. "What I'm trying to do is keep the world informed, those speeches which are then put on the internet are keeping the world informed.''

But in a conflict confused by multiple layers of lies and half-truths, Mr Purcell may only be adding to the puzzle by talking up his military credentials.

"You need to take what he says with a big dose of salt,'' said a source at the Australian embassy. "He's a big noter who gilds the lily big time.''

STIR 'EM UP: Purcell on the UDD stage with Weng Tojirakarn, translating the Australian's remarks.

Mr Purcell, who claims a political science degree from the University of Western Australia, says he had always been an admirer of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his poverty-alleviation policies. "His macro-economic policies, I thought, were brilliant; the fact that he seemed to be the first prime minister to focus on the poor and the majority of people.''

Mr Purcell, who says he is not paid by the reds, became "radicalised'' and "very angry'' at the Thai government after what he witnessed during the April 10 fighting, which left 25 people dead.

"The criminality on that day was very similar to Bloody Sunday in Ireland,'' he said. "It was an insult to any soldier, it was an insult to any rules of engagement, it was an insult to any manly sense of honour that they tear-gassed a crowd of monks and businessmen.''

He says he was injured by two silicon-coated bullets while trying to shelter behind an APC secured by the reds and now has a ``dirty wound'' which cannot be stitched and has to be treated with antibiotics.

During the skirmish he lost his Australian emergency passport and 1,400 baht. He signed a statutory declaration at the Australian embassy on April 20 detailing his ordeal. ``They said you have to go home straight away, then they walked back into their air-conditioned office and made themselves a cup of tea,'' Mr Purcell said.

The embassy source said Mr Purcell's behaviour and public statements were ``disturbing'' and they had advised him to return home. ``He's actually broken quite a few Thai laws,'' the source said.

Mr Purcell denies he has interfered in Thai affairs, saying he has only given a ``witness statement'' of what actually happened on April 10.

He says he is now working with the reds' legal and public relations teams and is "throwing ideas out''.

In his latest speech he asked the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Bangkok to the International Criminal Court and for the court to investigate the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation.

Mr Purcell says that when the protests are over he plans to continue his attempts to set up a charity here with connections to Vietnam and Cambodia.

[thailandbluegrass]

Thank god they finally arrested the loogun. 2 down 1 to go.

When will they arrest that young white protester in Chiang Mai who was actually CAUGHT on vide destroying propert? He is next I guess. That young muppet should get worse charges as they have him on video actually doing it. Link to this moron are below;

http://www.youtube.com/videos?ytsession=2z...3YA3lhPad8lU6d5

http://www.youtube.com/videos?ytsession=yh...mQMLXaYDJ3m7jr5

oops I see both videos have been removed by the owner. I hope the police can get a copy somewhere but I'm sure you have seen this delinquent.

[jcbangkok]

http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/8454/img6593f.jpg

Interesting photo of him in YELLOW.

Was he at Suvarnabhumi taking part in the blockade with yellows as well?? Talk about a mental case. Fits nicely in with Taksin.

Is this for real????????????????/

[clown]

There was another guy wearing a yellow headband, some German idiot ...

[thailandbluegrass]

Sorry here are the new links to the young farang vandal in chiang mai

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfmHDCb0Lb8...feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtA2oIGTDBI...feature=related

[MAJIC]

What a knob and tosser - typical army reservist wannabe. All he needs now is a yellow Hummvee and he's set It makes me ashamed to say I'm Aussie - a real embarrassment to Australians.

Yes the same shame and embarrassment felt by the Brits over the "Savage" guy.

Lets hope its not Aussie Bashing Racialist time for your people on Tv,as it was with the Brits and stupid "Savage"

Some Posters on here have a severe Pack Instinct, smell the blood and go for the kill!

[SeanMoran]

Oh well, thread merged so here we are. Good luck Conor.

[BigC]

Why is it always the Aussies and Brit who come to center stage here in Thailand for being just plain stupid.

We ain't stupid we are strong and if we beieve something then we stand up and speak straight. I have no comment on what he was talking about but i give him credit because he knew his business and which means that he also knew the out come of his actions and still braved on.

i don't think he is stupid he sounded like he was all there. Maybe to headstrong for his own good.

i try to not give my opinins on thai politics as a foreigner though i do respect the way people are ready to fight to the death what what they beleive in. reds and yellows!

[SeanMoran]

Why is it always the Aussies and Brit who come to center stage here in Thailand for being just plain stupid.

We ain't stupid we are strong and if we beieve something then we stand up and speak straight. I have no comment on what he was talking about but i give him credit because he knew his business and which means that he also knew the out come of his actions and still braved on.

i don't think he is stupid he sounded like he was all there. Maybe to headstrong for his own good.

i try to not give my opinins on thai politics as a foreigner though i do respect the way people are ready to fight to the death what what they beleive in. reds and yellows!

Most of our 'new-world cousins' are sadly lacking in understanding, but not to blame them for their substandard education.

[jcbangkok]

Why is it always the Aussies and Brit who come to center stage here in Thailand for being just plain stupid.

We ain't stupid we are strong and if we beieve something then we stand up and speak straight. I have no comment on what he was talking about but i give him credit because he knew his business and which means that he also knew the out come of his actions and still braved on.

i don't think he is stupid he sounded like he was all there. Maybe to headstrong for his own good.

i try to not give my opinins on thai politics as a foreigner though i do respect the way people are ready to fight to the death what what they beleive in. reds and yellows!

Come on ... the moron couldn't even keep his Visa current and then ran around screaming to Thailand he had no passport or Visa after having it 'stolen" a second time.

But yes, we can follow along with your logic that starts off explaining why he is not stupid.

[cpofc]

There was another guy wearing a yellow headband, some German idiot ...

Great that narrows it down to a few million then

[SeanMoran]

There was another guy wearing a yellow headband, some German idiot ...

Great that narrows it down to a few million then

Yes we do, but there is a vast difference between silently understanding the truth and making an effort to act upon it. There is a price to pay, but thanks to the brave who willingly pay that price.

[thailandbluegrass]

I find it amazing how easy it is for some people to wish someone to spend time in the "Thai Clinker" or "two years in Bangkok Hilton." This man obviously made the wrong decision to speak on the stage. I was asked to speak on the stage as well. I knew better. I am not a Red supporter or a Yellow supporter because I know that Thai politics are not my concern nor should they be. I would talk to both sides with an open mind and not judge. Thailand is not my country so I had no right to judge.

I would never wish for someone to endure the pain and suffering he is sure to be going through for only speaking on a stage. Anyone with a small amount of common sense would know that he had very little to do with the end results. Deported? Yes! Most definitely! Time is prison. Too much. It is like killing a spider with a shotgun. Deportation would get the message across to foreigners not to interfere.

YOU were asked to speak on stage? hahahahahahahha bye who? You just said your not red or yellow so <deleted> would they ask YOU to speak on stage. wow some peoples childeren.....

[Scottish Gary]

Respect to the guy for having the bottle to get up and say what he believes in. Many farangs sympathise with the red shirt movement but not many would put themselves in the firing line for it.

He must have known the danger he was putting himself in and the chances that his actions would bring his stay in LOS to a premature end but he obviously felt strongly enough to take the risk.

Edited May 25, 2010 by Scottish Gary

[tharae]

What a knob and tosser - typical army reservist wannabe. All he needs now is a yellow Hummvee and he's set It makes me ashamed to say I'm Aussie - a real embarrassment to Australians.

Yes the same shame and embarrassment felt by the Brits over the "Savage" guy.

Lets hope its not Aussie Bashing Racialist time for your people on Tv,as it was with the Brits and stupid "Savage"

Some Posters on here have a severe Pack Instinct, smell the blood and go for the kill!

Let it go.

Every expat country has it's, shall we say, problem people. Doesn't matter where their from, OZ, UK or US. Everyone knows it and we have all seen examples of it. In some cases it makes us wince (our own countrymen) and in others it makes us laugh, or in this case, deride.

[SeanMoran]

Respect to the guy for having the bottle to get up and say what he believes in. Many farangs sympathise with the red shirt movement but not many would put themselves in the firing line for it.

He must have known the danger he was putting himself in and the chances that his actions would bring his stay in LOS to a premature end but he obviously felt strongly enough to take the risk.

Welcome to the forum. Some of the motivation is driven by the caring that all human beings are of equal importance, and that apartheid shall never live in Thailand, nor the worlds we came from. That is what drives the brave to stand up for the sake of mankind.

[agord]

Why is it always the Aussies and Brit who come to center stage here in Thailand for being just plain stupid.

We ain't stupid we are strong and if we beieve something then we stand up and speak straight. I have no comment on what he was talking about but i give him credit because he knew his business and which means that he also knew the out come of his actions and still braved on.

i don't think he is stupid he sounded like he was all there. Maybe to headstrong for his own good.

i try to not give my opinins on thai politics as a foreigner though i do respect the way people are ready to fight to the death what what they beleive in. reds and yellows!

Most of our 'new-world cousins' are sadly lacking in understanding, but not to blame them for their substandard education.

educated what kind of education teaches you that's it's a wise move to be front and center in an illegal protest in a country you are not a citizen of? and when your own embassy tells you to get the f*** out of dodge because you are going to be in deep sh*t you blow them off! I wouldn't be so quick to use this moron as your poster boy for the Australian education system.

[SeanMoran]

Why is it always the Aussies and Brit who come to center stage here in Thailand for being just plain stupid.

We ain't stupid we are strong and if we beieve something then we stand up and speak straight. I have no comment on what he was talking about but i give him credit because he knew his business and which means that he also knew the out come of his actions and still braved on.

i don't think he is stupid he sounded like he was all there. Maybe to headstrong for his own good.

i try to not give my opinins on thai politics as a foreigner though i do respect the way people are ready to fight to the death what what they beleive in. reds and yellows!

Most of our 'new-world cousins' are sadly lacking in understanding, but not to blame them for their substandard education.

educated what kind of education teaches you that's it's a wise move to be front and center in an illegal protest in a country you are not a citizen of? and when your own embassy tells you to get the f*** out of dodge because you are going to be in deep sh*t you blow them off! I wouldn't be so quick to use this moron as your poster boy for the Australian education system.

No. You wouldn't, would you?

---o0o---

You probably paid (or your parents) a lot of money to be taught so wrongly, and I cannot correct your miseducation for free.

Edited May 25, 2010 by SeanMoran

[agord]

Respect to the guy for having the bottle to get up and say what he believes in. Many farangs sympathise with the red shirt movement but not many would put themselves in the firing line for it.

He must have known the danger he was putting himself in and the chances that his actions would bring his stay in LOS to a premature end but he obviously felt strongly enough to take the risk.

Welcome to the forum. Some of the motivation is driven by the caring that all human beings are of equal importance, and that apartheid shall never live in Thailand, nor the worlds we came from. That is what drives the brave to stand up for the sake of mankind.

wow maybe the two of you would like to join him. apartheid? maybe this tool had other motivations like a need for attention or to be someone important. The guy isn't even honest about his past. Seems to me like he is living in a fantasy world and you are ready to join him there.

Welcome you to the forum since I see you have only been here a matter of months so maybe unaware of how to conduct yourself in this country? I don't applaud him for his actions if he cared so much he should have booked a flight home and protested from there.

[agord]

There was another guy wearing a yellow headband, some German idiot ...

Great that narrows it down to a few million then

Yes we do, but there is a vast difference between silently understanding the truth and making an effort to act upon it. There is a price to pay, but thanks to the brave who willingly pay that price.

And what was gained by this retarded stunt? Why should anyone thank him? he did what besides embarass his country. Im not even Australian and Im ashamed.

[SeanMoran]

Respect to the guy for having the bottle to get up and say what he believes in. Many farangs sympathise with the red shirt movement but not many would put themselves in the firing line for it.

He must have known the danger he was putting himself in and the chances that his actions would bring his stay in LOS to a premature end but he obviously felt strongly enough to take the risk.

Welcome to the forum. Some of the motivation is driven by the caring that all human beings are of equal importance, and that apartheid shall never live in Thailand, nor the worlds we came from. That is what drives the brave to stand up for the sake of mankind.

wow maybe the two of you would like to join him. apartheid? maybe this tool had other motivations like a need for attention or to be someone important. The guy isn't even honest about his past. Seems to me like he is living in a fantasy world and you are ready to join him there.

Welcome you to the forum since I see you have only been here a matter of months so maybe unaware of how to conduct yourself in this country? I don't applaud him for his actions if he cared so much he should have booked a flight home and protested from there.

With a username like 'agord' I am sure you will be ready to be honest about your own past some time in the future.