Thai PM Abhisit Under Fire Over Deadly Crackdown

[shrekroma]

someone who murdered 3000 of their fellow citizens

FYI

During Thaksin era, his war on drugs was THE most successful campaign.

By successful, it doesnt mean more dead is good. Instead it means drug circle was virtually eliminated.

Thaksin was condemned by international community for violating human rights.

In Thailand, it's different.

Every single poll got 95%+ approval rating.

And this also pushed him to win landslide another major election - among Bangkokians -too.

If one want to jail Thaksin because of this policy, he/she might want to think carefully.

[jdinasia]

Red sympathizers only see what they want to see. Even if 10 people died, to them, the soldiers fired 'indiscriminately' into the crowd.

Abhisit defenders only see what they want to see. Even if there is 1 blk man among protesters, to them, the soldiers can fire live rounds into the crowd.

I'm Kidding. sorry.

But, unfortunately for the reds .... There were far more than just one of Sae daeng's Ronin.

Keep it in mind that the reds that died leading up to May 19th all died outside of Rachprasong where they were attacking the Security forces. Had they taken the offer of new elections they'd be alive. If they had stayed in with the grannies they'd be alive .... in fact had they done ANYTHING other than attack the security forces ......

[kissdani]

"Reds were directly quoted as saying they would target journalists. " Who, when and where? Do you have a source, a link?

...

From the IFEX: http://www.ifex.org/thailand/2010/05/19/polenghi_killed/

Read about Channel3 building torched, BP and Nation urging their staff to go home just in case.

jdinasia claimed:

"Reds were directly quoted as saying they would target journalists. "

WHO, WHERE and WHEN? I am really interested to get that DIRECT QUOTE.

Do you have a link or a source?

Edited May 31, 2010 by kissdani

[jdinasia]

someone who murdered 3000 of their fellow citizens

FYI

During Thaksin era, his war on drugs was THE most successful campaign.

By successful, it doesnt mean more dead is good. Instead it means drug circle was virtually eliminated.

Thaksin was condemned by international community for violating human rights.

In Thailand, it's different.

Every single poll got 95%+ approval rating.

And this also pushed him to win landslide another major election - among Bangkokians -too.

If one want to jail Thaksin because of this policy, he/she might want to think carefully.

Please document one poll where he got 95% approval for the extrajusdicial murders of 2700+ Thais?

But using your logic ----- then if Abhisit has the approval of more than 50% he could have just gone in with tanks and killed them all? Crazy!

BTW -- the drug trade wasn't even close to eradicated ... it just left one group in control for the most part.

[gl9999]

Well I'm pleased Abhisit will not be expecting to ride into power on the sad ripple of support generated for him by his supposed supporters on this Forum!!!

Hopefully not too many voting Thai will read the derogatory comments aimed at their own fellow citizens by the farang 'supposed' Abhisit supporters!!!

I'm pretty sure many Thais have a lot of derogatory comments for their northern neighbors after they tried to BURN BANGKOK TO THE GROUND.

[shrekroma]

Red Shit leaders are in jail and the rest of the little Red Shits are back home planting rice for the us Bangkok elite. It's a pretty good day.

LoL. Good. Show the people who you really are. Disgusting indeed.

[473geo]

Well I'm pleased Abhisit will not be expecting to ride into power on the sad ripple of support generated for him by his supposed supporters on this Forum!!!

Hopefully not too many voting Thai will read the derogatory comments aimed at their own fellow citizens by the farang 'supposed' Abhisit supporters!!!

I'm pretty sure many Thais have a lot of derogatory comments for their northern neighbors after they tried to BURN BANGKOK TO THE GROUND.

I think Abhisit will probably be amazed too by his 'supposed' supporters attempts to unify Thailand and move forward

[midasthailand]

Come on people, time for a reality check Nes pas? Any of you that have lived and worked in Thailand for a while and traveled around a bit will know that the next election will be won by which ever party is aligned with Thaksin. I am not casting aspersions on the intelligence of the fine people of Isaan but it is a fact that they (at least the majority of them) have no access to the information sources of most of you and get to listen to the village headman waffling on every morning over the loudspeakers about the merits of Mr. Thaksin. Political campaigning in Thailand is not the same as in western countries and the people vote according to instructions from their vilage headman.

Whilst I admire the restraint and integrity displayed by Mr. Abhisit during this crisis, there is no place in Thai politics for an honest PM! Without fail polticians and their close confederates need a like minded person in the position of power so that they can continue to keep their snouts in the trough!

I dont dispute that there is a large disparity between the urban rich and the rural poor but the one man that has genuinely made an attempt to redress this imbalance through introducing some progressive policies (health, education and debt forgiveness) has NO chance of winning the next election, whenever it is held. I have great admiration for Mr. Abhisit and feel very sad for the Thai people because they will always take the 500 Baht in the pocket today rather than look at the bigger picture.

After the next election the cycle will start again and we will go through the same process of coup, coalition, protests and election with a few deaths and burned down buildings thrown into the mix.

So sad that their political system will never allow open and fair elections free of corruption and with the free flow of information being available so that the people can make an informed decision after balancing the speeches of each candidate.

Returning Thaksin's cronies to power will only perpetuate the spiral of the poor getting poorer and the rich getting richer. So sad that they cannot see that they are being exploited by the people that they think have their best interests at heart.

Rant over!!

[gl9999]

Red Shit leaders are in jail and the rest of the little Red Shits are back home planting rice for the us Bangkok elite. It's a pretty good day.

LoL. Good. Show the people who you really are. Disgusting indeed.

Red Shits show no remorse for trying to burn our city to the ground. They don't care about the thousands of poor people whom they have caused to lose their jobs.They want to bring back a person who murdered 3000 Thai people. So yes, if I'm going to be a disgusting asshol_e, I might as well be that towards them.

Thai fragrant rice always tastes so good, don't you think?

[473geo]

Nice try, the protestors broke the law by cutting the fence and entering Government property....sound familiar

A government spokesman at the time stated they were 'at risk of being shot'.......sound familiar

To reiterate there is "not a like for like comparison" the Redshirts broke the law in the manner of Anarchists/Terrorists no comparison with the Greenham common protesters.

At the time the Greenham Common protest was an expensive thorn in the side of the Government nothing more,again no comparison

your definition of 'big difference' appears a little ill thought out....but this is just detail and not important to the future of Thailand.....maybe take this as a reminder to research a little deeper next time....

To reiterate there is not a like for like comparison the Redshirts broke the law in the manner of Anarchists/Terrorists no comparison with the Greenham common protesters.

At the time the Greenham Common protest was an expensive thorn in the side of the Government nothing more,again no comparison.

Eventually the Greenham common protesters were evicted by the Local District Council,thats the difference between non violent demonstrations and violent protesters inconveniencing and holding the rest of the population to ransom,again no comparison.They didnt destroy the area after they surrendered either,again no comparison.

Got it now?

I will agree with you on one point: not important to the future of Thailand.

You do not believe that was the case in Bangkok?

[MAJIC]

Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp. 1981 - 2000

For the most part Greenham Common was a way of life Gender encampment,of no violent threat to the countries

stability,and unlike the Redshirts demonstration relatively peaceful by comparison. not a like for like comparison,hence

the 9 years period of protest,which by the way their aim was the removal of Nuclear Missiles in that area,not to bring

down the legitimate Government of the day and reinstate a deposed absconder from justice..............Big difference!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nice try, the protestors broke the law by cutting the fence and entering Government property....sound familiar

A government spokesman at the time stated they were 'at risk of being shot'.......sound familiar

To reiterate there is "not a like for like comparison" the Redshirts broke the law in the manner of Anarchists/Terrorists no comparison with the Greenham common protesters.

At the time the Greenham Common protest was an expensive thorn in the side of the Government nothing more,again no comparison

your definition of 'big difference' appears a little ill thought out....but this is just detail and not important to the future of Thailand.....maybe take this as a reminder to research a little deeper next time....

To reiterate there is not a like for like comparison the Redshirts broke the law in the manner of Anarchists/Terrorists no comparison with the Greenham common protesters.

At the time the Greenham Common protest was an expensive thorn in the side of the Government nothing more,again no comparison.

Eventually the Greenham common protesters were evicted by the Local District Council,thats the difference between non violent demonstrations and violent protesters inconveniencing and holding the rest of the population to ransom,again no comparison.They didnt destroy the area after they surrendered either,again no comparison.

Got it now?

I will agree with you on one point: not important to the future of Thailand.

[gl9999]

Come on people, time for a reality check Nes pas? Any of you that have lived and worked in Thailand for a while and traveled around a bit will know that the next election will be won by which ever party is aligned with Thaksin. I am not casting aspersions on the intelligence of the fine people of Isaan but it is a fact that they (at least the majority of them) have no access to the information sources of most of you and get to listen to the village headman waffling on every morning over the loudspeakers about the merits of Mr. Thaksin. Political campaigning in Thailand is not the same as in western countries and the people vote according to instructions from their vilage headman.

Whilst I admire the restraint and integrity displayed by Mr. Abhisit during this crisis, there is no place in Thai politics for an honest PM! Without fail polticians and their close confederates need a like minded person in the position of power so that they can continue to keep their snouts in the trough!

I dont dispute that there is a large disparity between the urban rich and the rural poor but the one man that has genuinely made an attempt to redress this imbalance through introducing some progressive policies (health, education and debt forgiveness) has NO chance of winning the next election, whenever it is held. I have great admiration for Mr. Abhisit and feel very sad for the Thai people because they will always take the 500 Baht in the pocket today rather than look at the bigger picture.

After the next election the cycle will start again and we will go through the same process of coup, coalition, protests and election with a few deaths and burned down buildings thrown into the mix.

So sad that their political system will never allow open and fair elections free of corruption and with the free flow of information being available so that the people can make an informed decision after balancing the speeches of each candidate.

Returning Thaksin's cronies to power will only perpetuate the spiral of the poor getting poorer and the rich getting richer. So sad that they cannot see that they are being exploited by the people that they think have their best interests at heart.

Rant over!!

As rants go, that was a pretty good one!

[gl9999]

Well I'm pleased Abhisit will not be expecting to ride into power on the sad ripple of support generated for him by his supposed supporters on this Forum!!!

Hopefully not too many voting Thai will read the derogatory comments aimed at their own fellow citizens by the farang 'supposed' Abhisit supporters!!!

I'm pretty sure many Thais have a lot of derogatory comments for their northern neighbors after they tried to BURN BANGKOK TO THE GROUND.

I think Abhisit will probably be amazed too by his 'supposed' supporters attempts to unify Thailand and move forward

The Red Shits don't want to unify Thailand. They want what THEY want, not caring about anyone else. So pray tell, why should we be nice to them when they hate us so much?

[jdinasia]

Red sympathizers only see what they want to see. Even if 10 people died, to them, the soldiers fired 'indiscriminately' into the crowd.

Abhisit defenders only see what they want to see. Even if there is 1 blk man among protesters, to them, the soldiers can fire live rounds into the crowd.

I'm Kidding. sorry.

Who cares? Prime Minister Abhisit is still Prime Minister. Red Shit leaders are in jail and the rest of the little Red Shits are back home planting rice for the us Bangkok elite. It's a pretty good day.

i care. i wish abhisit and his other partner deputy, get what they deserve. the monkey house is to good for people like them. there time will come.

Their time is here already. They are the PM and DPM (assuming you mean Suthep) of the Kingdom of Thailand. They showed great restraint and gave the armed red mob every chance to disperse from their illegal insurrectionist protest. They set up a perimeter and held it for days to show they were serious WITHOUT moving in on the main rally. It was only after they started pushing the red-shirt guards back from Silom intersection to Salasin intersection that the leaders took them seriously and either ran like cowards or took a walk down the street to turn themselves in.

An amazing accomplishment --- only to have the red terrorists proceed to start even more terrorism with burning many buildings in BKK and upcountry. Something they had threatened from before they arrived in BKK. Something Thaksin mentioned.

I am still wondering if Arisaman and Thaksin will blubber like babies when they are finally in court, like that oh so respectable Jeff Savage

[rubl]

The late renegade general Seh Daeng has gone on record saying K. Thaksin told him he and three UDD leaders were to take over from some who wanted to stop the protest and deal/co-operate with the government for changes. This was on 14/15 of May (I think) before the encirclement started. Of course there is no 'legally binding' contract, no need amongst gentlemen .

You know the game: When and where, source, link, direct quote.

Please consider the words of PM Abhisit:

"Abhisit also urged the public to be cautious about rumours and untrue stories as his administration remained committed to a free press."

Seh Daeng has also said:

- "I only want to fight with peaceful means."

- "The Men in Black come from the government."

- "the government shot the citizens" on April 10.

- Maj. Gen. Khattiya said he had a message for President Barack Obama: "This government is murdering people. Bring the United Nations in, because it is going to be like Pol Pot, Mussolini, and Hitler."

Do you believe that? Do you think you can use Seh daeng statements as the statement of a key witness or as clear evidence?

This may mean I can't trust anything the late Seh Daeng said. Mind you I was already wondering how this red-shirt supporter moved up to 'one of it's leaders'. As true red-shirt protester I would be appalled by his audacity.

Oh, by the way, what are you trying to say?

Oops, forgot the links it seems

- http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/1736...g-full-throttle

- http://www.csmngt.com/thailand_newspapers.htm

- http://democracyforburma.wordpress.com/201...nded-from-duty/ (democracy for Burma?)

I could probably find more, but doubt you'll be satisfied. Up to you. Almost as good as at this moment K. Jatuporn on TV

[473geo]

Hopefully not too many voting Thai will read the derogatory comments aimed at their own fellow citizens by the farang 'supposed' Abhisit supporters!!!

I'm pretty sure many Thais have a lot of derogatory comments for their northern neighbors after they tried to BURN BANGKOK TO THE GROUND.

I think Abhisit will probably be amazed too by his 'supposed' supporters attempts to unify Thailand and move forward

The Red Shits don't want to unify Thailand. They want what THEY want, not caring about anyone else. So pray tell, why should we be nice to them when they hate us so much?

Abhisit has one chance to win the next election, a hearts and minds campaign, and action in the rural areas, devisive elements will not assist in achieving his goal...........perhaps then your goal is not a unified Thailand with Abhisit as PM.

[TrippRitter]

The PM bent over backwards to avoid violence, but the protesters refused to cooperate.

Newsflash: Killing 80+ people isn't exactly "bending over backwards to avoid violence".

You have no idea how easy the reds had it. If this had happened in the U.S. it would not have lasted months or even weeks. It would have ended after a few days with troops moving in and mowing down anybody not wearing a military uniform. Of course the killings would be justified since the United States can categorize anything outside of government worship as being an act of terrorism. It wouldn't stop there, the government would then turn around and use the disaster to pass mountains of legislation restricting the first amendment and other rights of the people. The reds could have had it much much worse.

[kissdani]

"Reds were directly quoted as saying they would target journalists. " WHO, WHEN and WHERE?

I would like to see the direct quote. In its context. Do you have a source, a link?

I heard 'the reds' also have said that they are peaceful just like Mother Theresa, or something like that. Do you believe everything what the reds say?

Okay, if dead bodies don't count, because the red shirt would still complain even if 'only' 10 got killed, how many videos or photos of 'black shirts' you need to declare the red shirt to a terrorist movement and the killing for justified?

How many of the dead were terrorists and had attacked the security forces with weapons of war, how many of the wounded had attacked the peacekeeper army with weapons of war?

I did give you a link. But you want a 'direct quote'. Hahahahaha typical Red Shit, like Jatuporn, you're asking the impossible. As stupid as the Red Shits are, I don't think anyone of them is dumb enough to threaten to kill someone and then leave his name for a 'direct quote'.

The 80 killed(sans the medics and journalists) were there even after the government warned them repeatedly to leave and they also knew a crack down was coming. So if they died, they have themselves to blame. While not all of them were armed with weapons of war, they fought side by side with people that were armed. That makes them as guilty. And you don't need an assault rifle or a grenade launcher to be deadly. A molotov cocktail is just as bad.

My friend, why makes me that question to a typical red shirt? I was asking for a "direct quote" because jdinasia claimed that direct quotes exists:

"Reds were directly quoted as saying they would target journalists."

[gl9999]

Abhisit has one chance to win the next election, a hearts and minds campaign, and action in the rural areas, devisive elements will not assist in achieving his goal...........perhaps then your goal is not a unified Thailand with Abhisit as PM.

I would love for PM Abhisit to win the next election and unify all Thais. But he has his work cut out for him. The Red Shits are too entrenched in their thinking and their love for the beloved leader. Add that to the fact that the Red Shit guards will never allow any fair campaigning or anyone to speak for the Democrats. Should I remind you about the the radio guy who got beaten up with his father who died, by the Red Shit guards for actually speaking up against them?

If they show love for us first by expressing some form of remorse for holding our city hostage and burning down our structures, then maybe we can forgive. Until then, I for one, have no love for them.

[jdinasia]

Come on people, time for a reality check Nes pas? Any of you that have lived and worked in Thailand for a while and traveled around a bit will know that the next election will be won by which ever party is aligned with Thaksin. I am not casting aspersions on the intelligence of the fine people of Isaan but it is a fact that they (at least the majority of them) have no access to the information sources of most of you and get to listen to the village headman waffling on every morning over the loudspeakers about the merits of Mr. Thaksin. Political campaigning in Thailand is not the same as in western countries and the people vote according to instructions from their vilage headman.

<snip>

Rant over!!

I actually disagree with your initial conclusion (oxymoron?).

Thaksin's parties are done. They need the political machines of people like Newin and Branharn etc to carry any majority. Thay won't get that again. They will have some of the minor groups and Chavalit and the Thaksin machine that is still in place in a few areas.

They will get about 30% of the MP's in the next election, possibly up to 40%. The thing is, nobody is likely to form a coalition government with them. They ay end up being the largest party in parliament like now and still not be the ones that form the government. Buriram and surrounding areas will go BJT. Suphanburi and surrounding areas will go whatever way Barnharn goes ...

Just like Surat will go whichever way Suthep says. The same with ALL the power brokers across the country.

Chevalit is likely to be nullified before the next election cycle and Nonthaburi should swing with BKK again.

So my educated guess is that the Dems and PTP break about even in the next elections --- and the Dems form the next Gov (or possibly back Newin if his 5 year ban is finished by then.)

[473geo]

For the most part Greenham Common was a way of life Gender encampment,of no violent threat to the countries

stability,and unlike the Redshirts demonstration relatively peaceful by comparison. not a like for like comparison,hence

the 9 years period of protest,which by the way their aim was the removal of Nuclear Missiles in that area,not to bring

down the legitimate Government of the day and reinstate a deposed absconder from justice..............Big difference!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nice try, the protestors broke the law by cutting the fence and entering Government property....sound familiar

A government spokesman at the time stated they were 'at risk of being shot'.......sound familiar

To reiterate there is "not a like for like comparison" the Redshirts broke the law in the manner of Anarchists/Terrorists no comparison with the Greenham common protesters.

At the time the Greenham Common protest was an expensive thorn in the side of the Government nothing more,again no comparison

your definition of 'big difference' appears a little ill thought out....but this is just detail and not important to the future of Thailand.....maybe take this as a reminder to research a little deeper next time....

To reiterate there is not a like for like comparison the Redshirts broke the law in the manner of Anarchists/Terrorists no comparison with the Greenham common protesters.

At the time the Greenham Common protest was an expensive thorn in the side of the Government nothing more,again no comparison.

Eventually the Greenham common protesters were evicted by the Local District Council,thats the difference between non violent demonstrations and violent protesters inconveniencing and holding the rest of the population to ransom,again no comparison.They didnt destroy the area after they surrendered either,again no comparison.

Got it now?

I will agree with you on one point: not important to the future of Thailand.

I get the fact you are not able to make the connection.....I have given 4 good examples, one, 'the expensive thorn in the side of the government' which you amazingly cannot accept as a match....saying there is no comparison does not make it true

[rubl]

"Reds were directly quoted as saying they would target journalists. " Who, when and where? Do you have a source, a link?

...

From the IFEX: http://www.ifex.org/thailand/2010/05/19/polenghi_killed/

Read about Channel3 building torched, BP and Nation urging their staff to go home just in case.

jdinasia claimed:

"Reds were directly quoted as saying they would target journalists. "

WHO, WHERE and WHEN? I am really interested to get that DIRECT QUOTE.

Do you have a link or a source?

Your question only distracts from the main issue: reds targeted journalists. Do you really want a hand-written, legalized statement with a red blob of sealing wax stamped by appropriate authorities?

[473geo]

Abhisit has one chance to win the next election, a hearts and minds campaign, and action in the rural areas, devisive elements will not assist in achieving his goal...........perhaps then your goal is not a unified Thailand with Abhisit as PM.

I would love for PM Abhisit to win the next election and unify all Thais. But he has his work cut out for him. The Red Shits are too entrenched in their thinking and their love for the beloved leader. Add that to the fact that the Red Shit guards will never allow any fair campaigning or anyone to speak for the Democrats. Should I remind you about the the radio guy who got beaten up with his father who died, by the Red Shit guards for actually speaking up against them?

If they show love for us first by expressing some form of remorse for holding our city hostage and burning down our structures, then maybe we can forgive. Until then, I for one, have no love for them.

Nope you must meet in nomans' land to stay in your trench is no good as it is no good for them to stay in theirs. You carry too much baggage and I feel are on the outside looking in

[jdinasia]

"Reds were directly quoted as saying they would target journalists. " WHO, WHEN and WHERE?

I would like to see the direct quote. In its context. Do you have a source, a link?

I heard 'the reds' also have said that they are peaceful just like Mother Theresa, or something like that. Do you believe everything what the reds say?

Okay, if dead bodies don't count, because the red shirt would still complain even if 'only' 10 got killed, how many videos or photos of 'black shirts' you need to declare the red shirt to a terrorist movement and the killing for justified?

How many of the dead were terrorists and had attacked the security forces with weapons of war, how many of the wounded had attacked the peacekeeper army with weapons of war?

I did give you a link. But you want a 'direct quote'. Hahahahaha typical Red Shit, like Jatuporn, you're asking the impossible. As stupid as the Red Shits are, I don't think anyone of them is dumb enough to threaten to kill someone and then leave his name for a 'direct quote'.

The 80 killed(sans the medics and journalists) were there even after the government warned them repeatedly to leave and they also knew a crack down was coming. So if they died, they have themselves to blame. While not all of them were armed with weapons of war, they fought side by side with people that were armed. That makes them as guilty. And you don't need an assault rifle or a grenade launcher to be deadly. A molotov cocktail is just as bad.

My friend, why makes me that question to a typical red shirt? I was asking for a "direct quote" because jdinasia claimed that direct quotes exists:

"Reds were directly quoted as saying they would target journalists."

This is what you call cherrypicking (going for the weakest arguent and ignoring all the other ones) and circular reasoning.

But to help Dani out (wherever he resides) --- you can change that to the "reds were quoted as saying "or the "reds were reported to have said"... This is reported in local and foreign press. It was in Din Daeng and reported all over the internet on May 19th. It was in Din Daeng. It was the red shirts. The report was in the Thai papers as a quote. I am NOT going to dig through everything in Matichon, Thai Rath, Manager etc in Thai for the quote. Even Pro-red bloggers and reporters fled dindaeng after the threats were issued.

The threats were taken seriously ---

[jdinasia]

Geo --- get back to the topic and not some women's knitting bee in Cotswold ....PLEASE

[rubl]

Abhisit has one chance to win the next election, a hearts and minds campaign, and action in the rural areas, devisive elements will not assist in achieving his goal...........perhaps then your goal is not a unified Thailand with Abhisit as PM.

I would love for PM Abhisit to win the next election and unify all Thais. But he has his work cut out for him. The Red Shits are too entrenched in their thinking and their love for the beloved leader. Add that to the fact that the Red Shit guards will never allow any fair campaigning or anyone to speak for the Democrats. Should I remind you about the the radio guy who got beaten up with his father who died, by the Red Shit guards for actually speaking up against them?

If they show love for us first by expressing some form of remorse for holding our city hostage and burning down our structures, then maybe we can forgive. Until then, I for one, have no love for them.

Nope you must meet in nomans' land to stay in your trench is no good as it is no good for them to stay in theirs. You carry too much baggage and I feel are on the outside looking in

A profound statement! Most of us in or outside Thailand have problems understanding Thai way of thinking. Mid-night and K. Jatuporn still going on on TV. How come lots of seats are empty, no interest or need to sleep. Feel sorry for those who are still there and cannot leave till the last stops talking. Tomorrow again

[jayjay0]

Come on people, time for a reality check Nes pas? Any of you that have lived and worked in Thailand for a while and traveled around a bit will know that the next election will be won by which ever party is aligned with Thaksin. I am not casting aspersions on the intelligence of the fine people of Isaan but it is a fact that they (at least the majority of them) have no access to the information sources of most of you and get to listen to the village headman waffling on every morning over the loudspeakers about the merits of Mr. Thaksin. Political campaigning in Thailand is not the same as in western countries and the people vote according to instructions from their vilage headman.

Whilst I admire the restraint and integrity displayed by Mr. Abhisit during this crisis, there is no place in Thai politics for an honest PM! Without fail polticians and their close confederates need a like minded person in the position of power so that they can continue to keep their snouts in the trough!

I dont dispute that there is a large disparity between the urban rich and the rural poor but the one man that has genuinely made an attempt to redress this imbalance through introducing some progressive policies (health, education and debt forgiveness) has NO chance of winning the next election, whenever it is held. I have great admiration for Mr. Abhisit and feel very sad for the Thai people because they will always take the 500 Baht in the pocket today rather than look at the bigger picture.

After the next election the cycle will start again and we will go through the same process of coup, coalition, protests and election with a few deaths and burned down buildings thrown into the mix.

So sad that their political system will never allow open and fair elections free of corruption and with the free flow of information being available so that the people can make an informed decision after balancing the speeches of each candidate.

Returning Thaksin's cronies to power will only perpetuate the spiral of the poor getting poorer and the rich getting richer. So sad that they cannot see that they are being exploited by the people that they think have their best interests at heart.

Rant over!!

Great post

The one question I have is do you think they have enough money left to buy another election.

On another point I don't see talked about is did the red shirts get all the money they were promised. It is a safe bet the leaders did.

Also how much backing do the red shirts have. Here in Chiang Mai the heart of red shirt country 300 rioters came home and only 100 came out to welcome them. Just wondering oops moree than one question

[ballpoint]

"Reds were directly quoted as saying they would target journalists. " Who, when and where? Do you have a source, a link?

...

From the IFEX: http://www.ifex.org/thailand/2010/05/19/polenghi_killed/

Read about Channel3 building torched, BP and Nation urging their staff to go home just in case.

jdinasia claimed:

"Reds were directly quoted as saying they would target journalists. "

WHO, WHERE and WHEN? I am really interested to get that DIRECT QUOTE.

Do you have a link or a source?

Your question only distracts from the main issue: reds targeted journalists. Do you really want a hand-written, legalized statement with a red blob of sealing wax stamped by appropriate authorities?

As I said before, they have no interest in the facts, just to stir:

“While in theory the red shirts have surrendered and left their rally stage, one breakaway group said they will not be accepting that deal.

They warned that they will continue their fight and that they will target both Thai and foreign journalists”.

http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201005/2904158.htm?desktop

“There were also widespread reports of the targeting of journalists, who the redshirts blame for their defeat”.

http://www.andrew-drummond.com/tag/abhisit...jiva-redshirts/

"We condemn the intimidation of the media and being the target of the red shirts yesterday at the height of the crackdown," Thai Journalists Association (TJA) vice president Chavarong Limpattamapanee said in a phone interview”.

“There have also been increased tensions between journalists and red shirts who accuse the media of misinformation. The ‘Bangkok Post’ reported that red shirts threatened a journalist doing interviews among them for fear that the information would be used to undermine the protests. In March, the government television station was the target of a grenade attack”.

http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=51516

“Nice (the reporters name) managed to escape the angry crowd and was rescued by the guards. She was then taken to the area behind the Rajprasong rally stage to talk with Aree Krainara, the chief red-shirt guard. Nice explained to Aree that she was simply making a documentary film on protesters taking refuge in the temple, but some protesters thought she and her crew were setting up the scene to give the red-shirt protesters a bad name.

"Then, they incited other protesters to attack me, hurling abuse at me and they even hit me on the head," Nice said, recounting that she had been similarly attacked by protesters at the Phan Fa Bridge twice because of similar misunderstandings”.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/...a-30129711.html

[473geo]

Geo --- get back to the topic and not some women's knitting bee in Cotswold ....PLEASE

You mean you've contributed some new interesting posts while I've been distracted?

....thought not....

[MAJIC]

Thai PM defends crackdown ahead of censure debate

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Thailand's premier on Monday defended a deadly army crackdown on anti-government protesters as he prepared for a grilling in parliament on his handling of the crisis.

"The government and army had no intention to attack people," Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said ahead of the two-day no confidence debate.

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

"The government and army hand no intention to attack people " but had the intention to shoot and killed....and many civilians were shot in the back....

while the band played Waltzin Matilda

Please give the real people here who want a better Thailand a break

we expect nothing better from disciples of Thaskin

Talking of Disciples I was thinking how the numerous Red/Apologists/Sypathisers/Plants on here get paid by the

Messiah?

Is it by the number of Posts?

The Length of them?

The content ?

Amount of replies?

Amount of BS?

Evening work/Part time?

Expertise in Propaganda?

Ability to wind up?

Can make up a good nonsense Rant?

I could go on,but strangely after the Army cleared the streets and the leaders Surrendered a lot of the Red Posters

disappeared from high profile prolific Poster to zero posts ,seems strange,maybe the next shift workers moved in,dont

half seem a lot of Newbies now?