Red Shirts Must Stop Damaging Thailand

[webfact]

Red Shirts Must Stop Damaging the Country

Even though the country has been much damaged by the recent political unrest and is about to move forward in the reconciliation process, some red shirts are still attempting to incite a new round of political violence.

Sombat Boonngarmanong, who is the editor of a pro-red shirt newspaper, the founder of the Krajok Ngao Foundation and a leader of the anti-government movement, has recently led a number of red shirt supporters in organizing a symbolic gathering to glorify the red shirts' struggle by tying red cloths around the Ratchaprasong Intersection area.

Sombat was previously arrested in Pathumthani province for violating the emergency decree. Despite the court's approval on his bail, Sombat is relentlessly trying to organizing more anti-government activities.

Some people have raised suspicions that Sombat may have been coordinating his activities with the wider anti-government network in the country. It has also been speculated that the red shirts are mobilizing for a new round of political violence, aiming to topple the government and to resurrect former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra regime.

There have been many reports that the red shirts are planning major rallies in many provinces throughout the country on July 14, which is the founding date of the Thai Rak Thai Party and on July 26, which is Thaksin's birthday, to symbolize their fight against the government.

The right to hold peaceful assemblies is guaranteed by the Constitution. However, the true democratic rallies must be conducted peacefully, without any use of violence or violating other people's rights. The red shirt rallies, which took place during last year's Songkran Festival and from March to May of this year, have proven there has been a real attempt to bring down the government through violence.

Therefore, the red shirt movement must also consider the country's interests as to prove that it is sincere about bringing social justice and true democracy to the country, not to benefit one person or to abolish the monarchy as accused by many. It must also denounce the repetitious use of violence aiming to stir unrest without thinking about the dire consequences that could happen to the country.

Taken from Editorial Section, Naewna Newspaper, Page 3, July 12, 2010. Translated and Rewritten by Kongkrai Maksrivorawan

Please note that the views expressed in our "Analysis" segment are translated from local newspaper articles and do not reflect the views of the Thai-ASEAN News Network.

-- Tan Network 2010-07-12

[march]

on July 26, which is Thaksin's birthday

The red shirt rallies, which took place during last year's Songkran Festival and from March to May of this year, have proven there has been a real attempt to bring down the government through violence.

A difficult-to-ignore proven track record doesn't bode well for July 26.

I think this is red shirt jeff savage's card:

[march]

Security Beefed up in Northern Thailand ahead of Thaksin's Birthday

2010-07-12 13:39:38

Xinhua

Provincial governors in North Thailand have been instructed to closely monitor the peace and order situation ahead of ousted former Thai Premier Thaksin Shinawatra's July 26 birthday, Interior Minister Chavarat Charnveerakul said on Monday.

Chavarat's remark was made as Thailand's leading opposition Pheu Thai Party (PTP) is preparing to hold a religious ceremony for Thaksin's birthday, the National News Bureau of Thailand reported.

Also, the PTP party has planned to set up a stage for a political speech for Thaksin's birthday celebration in North Thailand -- the stronghold of the former Thai premier.

The stage is planned to set up at least in Lamphun and Kamphaeng Phet province on July 26 and 29, respectively.

Though there was no report of violence to occur, the provincial governors in these sensitive provinces have been ordered to closely monitor the situation to prevent violence from occurring, Chavarat said.

Thaksin was ousted by the military coup in September, 2006, in accusation of massive corruption, and kept in exile since then. Thaksin returned to Thailand in February, 2008 to face corruption charges, but he later fled into exile again and was convicted in absentia.

http://english.cri.cn/6966/2010/07/12/2021s582386.htm

[march]

Chavarat's remark was made as Thailand's leading opposition Pheu Thai Party (PTP) is preparing to hold a religious ceremony for Thaksin's birthday, the National News Bureau of Thailand reported.

This is the National News Bureau of Thailand report

Governors instructed to monitor local celebrations on Thaksin’s birthday

BANGKOK, 12 July 2010 (NNT) – Interior Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul has urged that all provincial governors should take care of the general situation in their provinces closely during the birthday celebrations arranged for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra at the end of July.

Mr Chavarat assigned provincial governors, especially those of Lamphun and Kamphaeng Phet, to keep an eye on the situation as the opposition Pheu Thai Party plans to set up stages in the provinces on 26 and 29 July 2010 to celebrate Mr Thaksin’s birthday.

The Minister stated that the preparedness was ordered only in risk zones. He affirmed however that there had been no reports of plans to instigate violence on the mentioned dates thus far.

Mr Thaksin, as the 23rd Prime Minister of Thailand from 9 February 2001 to 19 September 2006, will be 61 years old on 26 July 2010.

Supporters of the ex-Prime Minister as well as those of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship last year organized merit making ceremonies in several provinces upon Mr Thaksin's 60th birthday anniversary to ward off bad luck for him.

http://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news.php?id=255307120017

[Raybo]

Absolutely Right!!!

[march]

Supporters of the ex-Prime Minister as well as those of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship last year organized merit making ceremonies in several provinces upon Mr Thaksin's 60th birthday anniversary

Merit making? Oh, do they mean for like Thakino Pikku?

courtesy of 2bangkok.com

Matichon Weekly, January 25-31, 2008

Welcome home

It reads:

Welcome home - Thakino Pikku

"Pikku" is the title for a monk and "Thankino" is the supposed name for Thaksin as a monk. The head monk would give each new monk a new monk-like name based on their given name.

to ward off bad luck for him.

How has that worked for him over the past year?

[symbiosis]

The Economist has been pretty much spot on from the beginning of this self-inflicted crisis:

"This week Thais were encouraged to call a hot line and speak their mind. As television cameras rolled, Mr Abhisit and his ministers took a few of the calls. ... There is a much more systematic way to find out what the Thai population wants. It is called an election."

http://www.economist.com/node/16539306?story_id=16539306&fsrc=rss

[monkfish]

TV is great for finding out information regarding visas and what not but politicly I think extremely bias.

Anyway as I say great source of other information!!

[Siam Simon]

TV is great for finding out information regarding visas and what not but politicly I think extremely bias.

Anyway as I say great source of other information!!

The political discussion on TV is well-known on all the other Thai-related discussion groups as being it's weakest link. It does seem to be dominated (to say the least) by less-than-partial contributors.

[GeorgeO]

Chavarat's remark was made as Thailand's leading opposition Pheu Thai Party (PTP) is preparing to hold a religious ceremony for Thaksin's birthday, the National News Bureau of Thailand reported.

This is the National News Bureau of Thailand report

Governors instructed to monitor local celebrations on Thaksin's birthday

BANGKOK, 12 July 2010 (NNT) – Interior Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul has urged that all provincial governors should take care of the general situation in their provinces closely during the birthday celebrations arranged for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra at the end of July.

Mr Chavarat assigned provincial governors, especially those of Lamphun and Kamphaeng Phet, to keep an eye on the situation as the opposition Pheu Thai Party plans to set up stages in the provinces on 26 and 29 July 2010 to celebrate Mr Thaksin's birthday.

The Minister stated that the preparedness was ordered only in risk zones. He affirmed however that there had been no reports of plans to instigate violence on the mentioned dates thus far.

Mr Thaksin, as the 23rd Prime Minister of Thailand from 9 February 2001 to 19 September 2006, will be 61 years old on 26 July 2010.

Supporters of the ex-Prime Minister as well as those of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship last year organized merit making ceremonies in several provinces upon Mr Thaksin's 60th birthday anniversary to ward off bad luck for him.

http://thainews.prd....id=255307120017

How short their memories are ...! It's less than two months since this w***er denounced the red shirts ... "I am not their leader"...!!!

[SomTumTiger]

Nothing is going to happen - all talk with no money from Thaksin = nothing.

[LomSak27]

Therefore, the red shirt movement must also consider the country's interests as to prove that it is sincere about bringing social justice and true democracy to the country, not to benefit one person or to abolish the monarchy as accused by many

Say what you will you have to be impressed with Sondhi and his mystical cospiracy theories; the robe cermony and the erawan shrine incident (the Finland Plot was for the non mystically inclined) All of these have less than a half satangs worth of truth but very effective - the nation quotes it above, of course as a belief they do not have to say if it has any validity ... Slander morphs to reality.

[scorecard]

The Economist has been pretty much spot on from the beginning of this self-inflicted crisis:

"This week Thais were encouraged to call a hot line and speak their mind. As television cameras rolled, Mr Abhisit and his ministers took a few of the calls. ... There is a much more systematic way to find out what the Thai population wants. It is called an election."

http://www.economist.com/node/16539306?story_id=16539306&fsrc=rss

I certainly don't agree that the Economist has been spot on. I suggest their analysis is severly lacking in accuracy and professionalism.

The Economist was, for decades, seen as highly credible, not any more.

Edited July 13, 2010 by scorecard

[scorecard]

Chavarat's remark was made as Thailand's leading opposition Pheu Thai Party (PTP) is preparing to hold a religious ceremony for Thaksin's birthday, the National News Bureau of Thailand reported.

This is the National News Bureau of Thailand report

Governors instructed to monitor local celebrations on Thaksin's birthday

BANGKOK, 12 July 2010 (NNT) – Interior Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul has urged that all provincial governors should take care of the general situation in their provinces closely during the birthday celebrations arranged for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra at the end of July.

Mr Chavarat assigned provincial governors, especially those of Lamphun and Kamphaeng Phet, to keep an eye on the situation as the opposition Pheu Thai Party plans to set up stages in the provinces on 26 and 29 July 2010 to celebrate Mr Thaksin's birthday.

The Minister stated that the preparedness was ordered only in risk zones. He affirmed however that there had been no reports of plans to instigate violence on the mentioned dates thus far.

Mr Thaksin, as the 23rd Prime Minister of Thailand from 9 February 2001 to 19 September 2006, will be 61 years old on 26 July 2010.

Supporters of the ex-Prime Minister as well as those of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship last year organized merit making ceremonies in several provinces upon Mr Thaksin's 60th birthday anniversary to ward off bad luck for him.

http://thainews.prd....id=255307120017

How short their memories are ...! It's less than two months since this w***er denounced the red shirts ... "I am not their leader"...!!!

Thaksin - the mother of all flip flops.

[march]

Thaksin: a populist or an all powerful dictator?

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Thailand Business News

Thaksin’s election, which some consider legitimate despite the buying of votes and the “grants” skillfully distributed (1 million THB per village) the day before the second election, would never have been accepted in a genuinely democratic country.

Of course corruption existed prior to Thaksin, but is that a reason for it to continue? Quite evidently Thailand is capable of progressing towards greater democracy, and the present system is in the process of changing towards more modernity as long as the old barons make way for the young. Of course the old guard hangs on and many of them try to make a democratic name for themselves.

Thaksin is often praised for having improved social matters in Thailand, but this is not true. He gave charity to the poorest and least educated. He promoted consumer loans (and not micro-loans for economic investments). Is that called “social”? A flat rate for all of 30 baht per visit to any hospital establishment is debatable. All public hospitals were free; it was simply to bring the private clinics to charge only 30 baht and for the state to cover the difference.

Thaksin is often praised for having improved social matters in Thailand, but this is not true. He gave charity to the poorest and least educated.

What else has he done for the people? Nothing. What he has mostly done is take care or his own businesses and abused his position to help make them prosper. During his term the value of “Shin Corp” increased four-fold and when part of it was sold off to this Singapore company “Temasek” and the accounts were rendered public, it was discovered that during Thaksin’s term “Shin Corp” had never paid any taxes.

It took for a judge to convict Thaksin and seize part of his assets before the “reds” started to regroup. On the run abroad to avoid having to serve a 2-year sentence for financial misdeeds in another case, Thaksin declared that there were 1 million red demonstrators. At the very height of the demonstration there were at most twenty thousand and they were being paid 500 baht per marching day. At the end there were no more than 3,000.

The reds’ claims were as legally unjustifiable as they were simple: dissolve the parliament, dismiss the government, Thaksin’s pardon and return to Thailand, general elections (rigged of course) for Thaksin to return to power, and a return to the 1997 constitution (to Thaksin’s advantage).

The UDD’s failed uprising

The movement entitled UDD, “Union for Democracy and against Dictatorship”, misled the world press on the real objective for these political cowboys. Apart from a few very rare exceptions, the media was extremely naïve; had they taken a moment to look into the matter they would have rapidly realized that the UDD’s aim was to accede to power through the rural masses. The real meaning of “UDD” was “Union for Dictatorship and against Democracy”!

With Thaksin on the run, a handful of ambitious political pirates, including some of his earlier lieutenants, stepped in for him in Thailand and press-ganged the reds using entire families as human shields in the event of a military charge.

Just who are these come-what-may nutters encouraging thousands of innocent Thais from the provinces to come to be massacred with the sole goal of acceding to power? They began with brain-washing and emulation did the rest. How could one get the demonstrators on the street to understand that the red leaders’ aim was to take power and create a false republic / real dictatorship, while loud-speakers were pouring out their propaganda on the red “camps” 24 hours a day. Meanwhile, the red elite is busy working on taking over power and pursuing the good old Thai tradition filling ones own.

The latest months events went to their heads, causing them to lose common sense and good measure. To such an extent that even if they won, Thaksin, the initiator and instigator of this wasteful mess, would risk being overthrown by the new leaders of this anti-democratic uprising, now feeling legitimized because of their presence on the ground during the conflict. If victorious, in their thirst for power and money, the red leaders would be at each others throats.

Prime Minister Abhisit did everything in his power to avoid violence and maintain law and order, but these ignorant extremists failed to take up the offer – which in turn resulted in Veera (one of the red leader’s) to resign because of his acceptance of the gentleman’s agreement. The UDD had exceeding the point-of-no-return by repeatedly upping the stakes on the terms of the national reconciliation that the Prime Minister was proposing. Abhisit then had to withdraw his early election offer…he had conceded more than enough.

Sensing looming defeat, the red leaders resigned, abandoning their flock, but not without briefing them one last time: “1 liter of petrol per person multiplied by 1 million make 1 million liters of petrol…enough to set fire to the whole of Bangkok…” That’s the “political breed” that Thailand narrowly escaped. Luckily, not all of the 3,000 remaining demonstrators followed orders and consequently “only” 37 buildings burnt down that night in Bangkok.

Terrorism, nevertheless.

Only Thaksin, on the run, along with his “generals” can bear the moral responsibility for this sacrifice and resulting damage. They should also have to face the penal responsibility facing the Thai courts, but also the International Tribunal in The Hague, in addition to Thaksin’s condemnation for his cleansing (quaintly named “war-on-drugs”). The least of things would be for any future would-be dictators to think twice before launching into such an enterprise.

http://thailand-business-news.com/politics/19284-thaksin-a-populist-or-an-all-powerful-dictator/

[Rucharee]

The Economist has been pretty much spot on from the beginning of this self-inflicted crisis:

"This week Thais were encouraged to call a hot line and speak their mind. As television cameras rolled, Mr Abhisit and his ministers took a few of the calls. ... There is a much more systematic way to find out what the Thai population wants. It is called an election."

http://www.economist...539306&fsrc=rss

I certainly don't agree that the Economist has been spot on. I suggest their analysis is severly lacking in accuracy and professionalism.

The Economist was, for decades, seen as highly credible, not any more.

I certainly do agree that the Economist has been spot on. I think their analysis is accurate and professional.

The Economist is, for decades, seen as highly credible, and a lot more.

[nicholasday]

So Sombat Boonngarmanong tieing some red ribbons to the Rajaprasong intersection sign is destroying the country? Surely this sort of protest should be applauded. He was wrongfully arrested for it once and the courts rightly let him go.

[Thailand]

Perhaps the headline should read:

Thais Must Stop Damaging the Country

So many factions and fingers in various pies that is the bane of this lovely country.

[bikerlou47]

It is NOT the RED SHIRTS!

Read todays Wall Street Journal!

[Rucharee]

So Sombat Boonngarmanong tieing some red ribbons to the Rajaprasong intersection sign is destroying the country? Surely this sort of protest should be applauded. He was wrongfully arrested for it once and the courts rightly let him go.

The type of protest can start a civil war. Such protest must be stop at all cost.

I call it treason, and if found guilty, should be punished by death sentence.

[billd766]

The Economist has been pretty much spot on from the beginning of this self-inflicted crisis:

"This week Thais were encouraged to call a hot line and speak their mind. As television cameras rolled, Mr Abhisit and his ministers took a few of the calls. ... There is a much more systematic way to find out what the Thai population wants. It is called an election."

http://www.economist...539306&fsrc=rss

I certainly don't agree that the Economist has been spot on. I suggest their analysis is severly lacking in accuracy and professionalism.

The Economist was, for decades, seen as highly credible, not any more.

I certainly do agree that the Economist has been spot on. I think their analysis is accurate and professional.

The Economist is, for decades, seen as highly credible, and a lot more.

From what I read in the article the Economist states that Thaksin Shinawat was the Prime Minister.

That is surely incorrect because as far as I can remember he resigned the post and was merely a caretaker PM with no government.

If I am wrong I apologise but he was NOT the PM at that time.

If they got that bit wrong how can they be spot on?

Edited July 13, 2010 by billd766

[Rucharee]

It is NOT the RED SHIRTS!

Read todays Wall Street Journal!

Sorry, I don't think I can find a copy of WSJ in my village.

[Rucharee]

The Economist has been pretty much spot on from the beginning of this self-inflicted crisis:

"This week Thais were encouraged to call a hot line and speak their mind. As television cameras rolled, Mr Abhisit and his ministers took a few of the calls. ... There is a much more systematic way to find out what the Thai population wants. It is called an election."

http://www.economist...539306&fsrc=rss

I certainly don't agree that the Economist has been spot on. I suggest their analysis is severly lacking in accuracy and professionalism.

The Economist was, for decades, seen as highly credible, not any more.

I certainly do agree that the Economist has been spot on. I think their analysis is accurate and professional.

The Economist is, for decades, seen as highly credible, and a lot more.

From what I read in the article the Economist states that Thaksin Shinawat was the Prime Minister.

That is surely incorrect because as far as I can remember he resigned the post and was merely a caretaker PM with no government.

If I am wrong I apologise but he was NOT the PM at that time.

If they got that bit wrong how can they be spot on?

So who was in charge of the country at that time? Please give me a name. Mark?

If Mark dissolve the paliment today, Mark will still be the caretaker PM until the election is over and a new PM named.

Edited July 13, 2010 by Rucharee

[kissdani]

The Economist has been pretty much spot on from the beginning of this self-inflicted crisis:

"This week Thais were encouraged to call a hot line and speak their mind. As television cameras rolled, Mr Abhisit and his ministers took a few of the calls. ... There is a much more systematic way to find out what the Thai population wants. It is called an election."

http://www.economist.com/node/16539306?story_id=16539306&fsrc=rss

I certainly don't agree that the Economist has been spot on. I suggest their analysis is severly lacking in accuracy and professionalism.

The Economist was, for decades, seen as highly credible, not any more.

The Economist is spot on and has all the credibility.

What is your cedibility? Easy to be fooled by your maid or hopeless gullible when it comes to believe Abhisit?

[eggomaniac]

The OP mentioned 'reds' 10 times! He or she, mentioned the yellows 0.

The OP is one of the causes of Thailand's problems!

The trouble makers in Thailand?

1. Yellow and red mobster politicians, 2. paid flunkies, like the OP, 3. hopeless dupes and 4. The Stupid Majority who allows gangsters and bullies to fight over the pig trough.

LOOK, Western countries have politicians who get 'caught' in corruption schemes, but there a whole whack of them that serve honorably.

Can anybody name one, just 1, honest Thai politician??? Make a list, eh.

======================================================

Most people say Chuan Leekpai, but did he get 'nothing' from his brother's huge bank robbery?

Edited July 13, 2010 by eggomaniac

[Rucharee]

Please, I beg you.

Red Shirts Must Stop Damaging Thailand.

Please come over; I have your size Yellow shirt ready for you.

Even though Cain committed murder by killing his brother, God forgave him.

It is not to late to ask for forgiveness.

Give up and join the Yellow.

[jayboy]

The Economist has been pretty much spot on from the beginning of this self-inflicted crisis:

"This week Thais were encouraged to call a hot line and speak their mind. As television cameras rolled, Mr Abhisit and his ministers took a few of the calls. ... There is a much more systematic way to find out what the Thai population wants. It is called an election."

http://www.economist.com/node/16539306?story_id=16539306&fsrc=rss

I certainly don't agree that the Economist has been spot on. I suggest their analysis is severly lacking in accuracy and professionalism.

The Economist was, for decades, seen as highly credible, not any more.

You forgot to mention the Economist is in Thaksin's pay through his Moon henchman (along with CNN.BBC,NYT,FT,WSJ etc etc)

For the less myopic, of course the EConomist hasn't always got it right on Thailand but it has raised important legitimate issues that the local press has evaded.So a valuable service has been performed.

[sbk]

The OP mentioned 'reds' 10 times! He or she, mentioned the yellows 0.

The OP is one of the causes of Thailand's problems!

The trouble makers in Thailand?

1. Yellow and red mobster politicians, 2. paid flunkies, like the OP, 3. hopeless dupes and 4. The Stupid Majority who allows gangsters and bullies to fight over the pig trough.

LOOK, Western countries have politicians who get 'caught' in corruption schemes, but there a whole whack of them that serve honorably.

Can anybody name one, just 1, honest Thai politician??? Make a list, eh.

======================================================

Most people say Chuan Leekpai, but did he get 'nothing' from his brother's huge bank robbery?

Please note that the OP is a Thaivisa admin quoting a newspaper. And if you had bothered to take the time to look you would have seen that it is a translation from the Thai language newspaper Naew Na.

I can only assume you meant the original author.

In the future, please get your facts straight before posting inflammatory and accusatory nonsense. cheers

[kissdani]

The OP mentioned 'reds' 10 times! He or she, mentioned the yellows 0.

The OP is one of the causes of Thailand's problems!

The trouble makers in Thailand?

1. Yellow and red mobster politicians, 2. paid flunkies, like the OP, 3. hopeless dupes and 4. The Stupid Majority who allows gangsters and bullies to fight over the pig trough.

LOOK, Western countries have politicians who get 'caught' in corruption schemes, but there a whole whack of them that serve honorably.

Can anybody name one, just 1, honest Thai politician??? Make a list, eh.

======================================================

Most people say Chuan Leekpai, but did he get 'nothing' from his brother's huge bank robbery?

Please note that the OP is a Thaivisa admin quoting a newspaper. And if you had bothered to take the time to look you would have seen that it is a translation from the Thai language newspaper Naew Na.

I can only assume you meant the original author.

In the future, please get your facts straight before posting inflammatory and accusatory nonsense. cheers

What does OP mean?

[TAWP]

The Economist has been pretty much spot on from the beginning of this self-inflicted crisis:

"This week Thais were encouraged to call a hot line and speak their mind. As television cameras rolled, Mr Abhisit and his ministers took a few of the calls. ... There is a much more systematic way to find out what the Thai population wants. It is called an election."

http://www.economist.com/node/16539306?story_id=16539306&fsrc=rss

That is one inane thing to say.

I cannot remember one election in recent history in any country where the election of parliament MPs gave the people to have their voice heard.

It is however a chance for criminals to get elected on fake promises and flawed ideologies.

A vote for an MP does not give anyone the opportunity to say what they think, only an option between a few people that aspire to power.

Not even remotely the same thing.

And if this is the 'smrts' of the Economist being shown...then I am not impressed.