Thaksin Distancing Himself From Reds And Recent Violence?

[scorecard]

This is a bit dangerous. The concept of apology is different here and the Thai's expect it to matter a lot. If Thaksin pushes his new face, then that will put pressure on the authorities to be lenient and stop persuing the legal issues - opening up a door for the return. Which by the help of funding of course can be turned around to that the master-of-lies decides to go into politics again to meet the expectations of his "majority" of followers

"......then that will put pressure on the authorities to be lenient and stop persuing the legal issues ....." So then of course we have a return of red shirt protests claiming 'NO DOUBLE STANDARDS', and 'EQUAL JUSTICE FOR ALL THAIS'.

Gotta make you laugh. Laugh on scorecard, the poor and uneducated have always been used and will continue to be used

The red shirts wanting "equal justice for all" last time were standing beside big signs saying "Peaceful protesters, not terrorists" and yet there they stood while the gas tanks that was planned to be used to burn Central World if the army moved in were stock piled easily viewable only 50 meters away - the guards at the Offices at Central World easily saw them when they walked passed them, anyone think that that the "peaceful protesters" did not see them? In fact, the "peaceful protesters" were there because they had been led to believe that it, among other things, was going to give them one standard and equal justice, and they believed it

I agree totally that the uneducated and poor have been used as pawns and thaksin is one of the biggest offenders in terms of using these people. They deserve better: respect as human beings with equal rights and equal opportunity in every possible way.

Not sure of the rest of your comment -what's your point?

Apologies if I wasn't clear. What I meant was that the "peaceful protesters" did really believe that they were supporting one standard and equal justice, it wasn't laughable for them. They did not see any double standard in occupying Bangkok and walking past the gas tanks planned to be used to burn Bangkok every day. I think that it would be easy to get some red supporters to do the same again

To some extent I agree, they would do it again after being convinced by the red shirt leaders that they will suddenly be rich or whatever if the reds win, because the red leaders would again (if they have the chance) tell them loads of lies, untruths, twisted analysis, play more doctored audio tapes, give them totally false and totally unrealistic promises, etc etc.

On the other hand I give the example of the street vendors in my soi here in Bangkok, They will openly tell you they attended most of the rallies for the daily cash handouts. My adult Thai son carefully engaged them in coversations about the rallies, the red leaders etc., many times. They will quickly tell you that the rallies were boring, same old hate messages, which many times they didn't even fully understand, etc. My son also asked them to explain: some process of how things might change, why democracy is important, what does jatuporn etc mean by 'double standards' etc. They can't even begin to answer the questions. Just before songkran they said they were deliberately not missing a day so they could save the handouts for a trip home for songkran.

But I'll say again, do the rural poor / all poor / all people with very limited opportunities deserve more / do they deserve a better standard of living / do they have an absolute right to equal justice / to be heard, etc etc. YES, YES and YES!!!

[whybother]

Thaksin might be trying to convince people that he's distancing himself from the reds, but the reds aren't doing a very good job of distancing themselves from Thaksin:

The Deputy House Speaker also announced that the Pheu Thai Party would bank on ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's platform; however, he reaffirmed that the party would not focus on Mr Thaksin as being the next Prime Minister.

Thaksin as PM is their plan, but they won't focus on it.

edit: quote from daily thread

Edited August 5, 2010 by whybother

[Robby nz]

Thaksin might be trying to convince people that he's distancing himself from the reds, but the reds aren't doing a very good job of distancing themselves from Thaksin:

The Deputy House Speaker also announced that the Pheu Thai Party would bank on ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's platform; however, he reaffirmed that the party would not focus on Mr Thaksin as being the next Prime Minister.

Thaksin as PM is their plan, but they won't focus on it.

edit: quote from daily thread

Saw that also and wondered just what is "his platform"?

Possibly the same a th PTP in the recent by-election.

Bring back Thaksin,

Pardon all reds and yellow leaders,

Go back to the 30b health scheme.

And the village fund scheme.

And of course sympathy for the candidate

[animatic]

Thaksin might be trying to convince people that he's distancing himself from the reds, but the reds aren't doing a very good job of distancing themselves from Thaksin:

The Deputy House Speaker also announced that the Pheu Thai Party would bank on ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's platform; however, he reaffirmed that the party would not focus on Mr Thaksin as being the next Prime Minister.

Thaksin as PM is their plan, but they won't focus on it.

edit: quote from daily thread

Saw that also and wondered just what is "his platform"?

Possibly the same a th PTP in the recent by-election.

Bring back Thaksin,

Pardon all reds and yellow leaders,

Go back to the 30b health scheme.

And the village fund scheme.

And of course sympathy for the candidate

Sympathy For The Devil more like it.

I Saw Red Door and I went to Paint It Black.

[Ricardo]

Saw that also and wondered just what is "his platform"?

Possibly the same a th PTP in the recent by-election.

Bring back Thaksin,

Pardon all reds and yellow leaders,

Go back to the 30b health scheme.

And the village fund scheme.

And of course sympathy for the candidate

But why would the voters want to "Go back to the 30B health scheme", when it is now free, after the current govenrment discovered that it was costing more than 30B, to collect the charge ?

[Siripon]

[Re your earlier comments about Sujinda - I agree it could also happen to Thaksin, but I personally believe it would take a very public display of Thaksin getting down on his hands and knees in front of somebody before it will be allowed to happen in the immediate future at least. It's something I doubt as whether Thaksin will lower his pride enough to go through.

You can't compare Sujinda and Thaksin, Sujinda was a general who overstepped the mark and acted brutally, but he never had ambitions about forming a dynasty; unlike Thaksin whose ambitions right to the top are well known.

There can be no forgiveness for so many lies, ruthless ambition and deviousness.

Only exile to a small island such as Montenegro.

[Robby nz]

Saw that also and wondered just what is "his platform"?

Possibly the same a th PTP in the recent by-election.

Bring back Thaksin,

Pardon all reds and yellow leaders,

Go back to the 30b health scheme.

And the village fund scheme.

And of course sympathy for the candidate

But why would the voters want to "Go back to the 30B health scheme", when it is now free, after the current govenrment discovered that it was costing more than 30B, to collect the charge ?

You will have to ask the PTP that Ric.

That was what they stated as their policy for the by-election. Posted on here somewhere.

They have been so busy trying to create trouble they probably havent noticed its now free.

[MikeyIdea]

Re your earlier comments about Sujinda - I agree it could also happen to Thaksin, but I personally believe it would take a very public display of Thaksin getting down on his hands and knees in front of somebody before it will be allowed to happen in the immediate future at least. It's something I doubt as whether Thaksin will lower his pride enough to go through.

You can't compare Sujinda and Thaksin, Sujinda was a general who overstepped the mark and acted brutally, but he never had ambitions about forming a dynasty; unlike Thaksin whose ambitions right to the top are well known.

There can be no forgiveness for so many lies, ruthless ambition and deviousness.

Only exile to a small island such as Montenegro.

That's how westerners see it, not how Thai's see it. There can be forgiveness the way Thai's see it

[Insight]

Re your earlier comments about Sujinda - I agree it could also happen to Thaksin, but I personally believe it would take a very public display of Thaksin getting down on his hands and knees in front of somebody before it will be allowed to happen in the immediate future at least. It's something I doubt as whether Thaksin will lower his pride enough to go through.

You can't compare Sujinda and Thaksin, Sujinda was a general who overstepped the mark and acted brutally, but he never had ambitions about forming a dynasty; unlike Thaksin whose ambitions right to the top are well known.

There can be no forgiveness for so many lies, ruthless ambition and deviousness.

Only exile to a small island such as Montenegro.

That's how westerners see it, not how Thai's see it. There can be forgiveness the way Thai's see it

I guess we'll know for sure what attitudes are towards him when he announces his (real) intention to return. Should be due by the end of the year according to his last phone in.

[MikeyIdea]

On the other hand I give the example of the street vendors in my soi here in Bangkok, They will openly tell you they attended most of the rallies for the daily cash handouts. My adult Thai son carefully engaged them in coversations about the rallies, the red leaders etc., many times. They will quickly tell you that the rallies were boring, same old hate messages, which many times they didn't even fully understand, etc. My son also asked them to explain: some process of how things might change, why democracy is important, what does jatuporn etc mean by 'double standards' etc. They can't even begin to answer the questions. Just before songkran they said they were deliberately not missing a day so they could save the handouts for a trip home for songkran.

But I'll say again, do the rural poor / all poor / all people with very limited opportunities deserve more / do they deserve a better standard of living / do they have an absolute right to equal justice / to be heard, etc etc. YES, YES and YES!!!

I have the same experience, totally agree. A westerner speaking Thai at home, with neighbours and at work will have no problems at all getting the information that many Thais went there for the money. I hear the same from my wifes friends, friends at work and neighbours. I also asked about what the red movement stood for and got blank faces back. They don't know any details about what the reds want to do really - and haven't thought about any details either. They know that they want change but they don't know what they want except in broader terms like "better life", "more money". Almost any taxi driver etc. will say that many went there for the hand-outs if you speak good quick Thai with them, they will also say that those who went are red supporters - of course they are. I think they simply think it is so normal and accepted that they don't even think of it in terms of wrong to get paid, it's just normal. I cannot understand how some people here on TV can deny that it was very common. The information is so readily available that it is ridiculous that someone can deny it

I totally agree with the poors rights too. I have many Thai friends coming from a poorer background, of course they should have an absolute right to equal justice, all you write. I speak their language with them and I am close with them, we understand each other and each others feelings. They are hard working and deserve more in life. It does not change the fact that most of these people could do more to get a better life for themselves and much more to get a better life for their children, and they DON'T. The big difference is that the middle class accept to change more and the poor don't, they don't want to change, they don't want to buy a cheap book with hints how to teach your kids for a better future, they say they can't afford it and then they go and buy beer as usual instead. The lower class do not want to try. They don't want to know that others try so if they don't then they will be left behind either

In one way I envy them for having so much fun in life, but they should not come and blame others for that their life doesn't get better. First of all, their life does slowly get better, even though they don't really try - except by working hard but that is not what matters, it's attitude that matters. My life gets better faster than their lives simply because I try harder (not work harder, try harder), my daughter will get a better life simply because I try much harder than they do. We get nothing for free in life, I don't have as much fun in my life as they do, I don't laugh as often as they do

It's a shame that the poor are simply strategy and used as tools by some, occupying and burning

Edited August 6, 2010 by MikeyIdea