Donors Unhappy About Money Not Reaching Red Shirt Victims

[newermonkey]

I can't seem to use the quote function for the original post, so here is a copy & paste:

Jatuporn also admitted that he knew Maem, though they had lost touch after the crackdown.

Maem, he said, was responsible for cooking meals during the rally, adding that she was also in charge of those injured in the April 10 bloodshed.

He said that though donations had been solicited, he and the other rally organisers were not in charge of keeping records. He also claimed that the movement did not have a lot of money, which is why the main opposition party had to step in and assist victims and their relatives in the face of the crackdown.

I visited the Red Camp at Ratchaprasong a couple to times and was struck by how obviously well organized and well funded they were. There were several sets of huge Amps, lights, etc.., there were several support trucks, including (in the latter stages), large mobile generators and water supplies. There was free food and water being passed out every day. There was a fairly extensive row of tents to keep all of this equipment out of the sun and rain. The Black Guards all had walk-talkies (any other weapons they had were hidden during the day and whenever any tall foreigners were around).

It was obvious that, even if none of the protesters were being paid directly (and I know people who were working at a nearby store who were offered 500b/day to join the protest) the protest cost (at least) millions.

Maybe all of the money came from grass-roots donations and not from Thaksin and his cronies, but wherever the money came from, the Redshirts seem to be much more efficient at funding disruption than they are at funding aid!

Tqo points:

- There is no doubt whatever that the protestors were paid, that's been proven again and again and there are several video pieces of the protestors lined and having their ID card numbers checked then being given the cash. In my soi in BAngkok the food vendors bragged continuously, almost every day for numerous weeks that they were atending the rallies for the daily hand out. Coming up to songktan then mentioned that they were not msiing a day to ensudre they had plenty of cash to go home to the provinces.

- Millions? It had to be at least one billion, to pay for: daily hand out to protestors, sometimes in the 10s of thousand and over three months or more, the food provided on site, the cost of renting the stages, sound equipment, and lots more. Do you really bekieve this came from the grass roots people?

I am really happy to hear these people paid out Billions and ended up with nothing, its exactly what they deserve.

[animatic]

stupid is as stupid does

som nam nah :jap:

Certainly so, especially when

RTFT

Red Thai fuc_k Thai

ไทยแดงไทยมีเพศสัมพันธ์

is your icon of goodness.

Edited September 30, 2010 by animatic

[mca]

Is there any evidence that Veera himself is the recipient of these donations?

[slapout]

A visual check/recent photo, may give circumstantial evidence that he got a large portion of the food that was donated.Doubt anyone looks too hard for the proceeds unless a reward which is larger than monies found is offered.

[geriatrickid]

Has it occurred to some of you that the Redshirt group is also a victim? Welcome to the darkside of charities. Money is often collected by people claiming to be represent a charity, that have absolutely nothing to do with the charity. Major charities around the world are defrauded on a regular basis by such deceitful acts. Following the earthquake in Haiti, it was a veritable feeding frenzy for crooks claiming to be collecting on behalf of the injured. Where the Redshirts dropped the ball is in failing to keep an eye on such crooks and in not warning supporters sooner. On that, they are in good company with some major reputable charities.

If people want to use this as an excuse to claim an indication of an evil plan, nothing can be said to counter that because these people have an obsessive need to express such sentiments. For those with common sense, one need only remember what occurred following the tsunami where millions were collected on behalf of victims. This included several people claiming to respresent the Red Cross. The people stealing had nothing to do whatsoever with the Red Cross. Would these same people in TV claiming a plot here, have blamed the Red Cross for the theft of tsunami monies? The allegations in this case are typical of any large charity collection drive. Instead of blaming the victims, go after the thieves. I think you will find that the people that stole funds here, do so as a career and they target anyone and everyone, no matter the victims political views. Charity thieves are brazen, selfish and the epitomy of evil. The only positive aspect to this story is that if the people are caught, there may be some street justice rendered.

[brahmburgers]

As the post above attests, yes, there are lots of scams by thieves pretending to be charities. Even bona fide charities are adept at ripping off donors. The head of Red Cross gets a half million $$s/yr salary. So, if you donated $100 to the Red Cross to assist Haiti or Pakistan, it would take 4,999 others donating that same amount to pay just that one person's salary - before any money was transferred to trouble zones.

However, in the OP, it appears the person who was collecting the donated money (from the the bilked C.Rai woman and others) was embedded within the Reds. Lots of Reds, including its leadership appear to know the thief (yet they try to lessen their familiarity with her, as the story gains steam). So the rip off person, in this case, was not some conniving thief from outside the organization. She was a full fledged Red. The money won't be recovered, and it's doubtful there will be any litigation around it. The duped lady would be too embarrassed to pursue it, and the thief is too crafty to be caught with the dough - she probably honed her craft with lessons from her dear leader: Thaksin.

Edited September 30, 2010 by brahmburgers

[Buchholz]

Has it occurred to some of you that the Redshirt group is also a victim? Welcome to the darkside of charities.

Money is often collected by people claiming to be represent a charity, that have absolutely nothing to do with the charity. Major charities around the world are defrauded on a regular basis by such deceitful acts. Following the earthquake in Haiti, it was a veritable feeding frenzy for crooks claiming to be collecting on behalf of the injured. Where the Redshirts dropped the ball is in failing to keep an eye on such crooks and in not warning supporters sooner. On that, they are in good company with some major reputable charities.

If people want to use this as an excuse to claim an indication of an evil plan, nothing can be said to counter that because these people have an obsessive need to express such sentiments. For those with common sense, one need only remember what occurred following the tsunami where millions were collected on behalf of victims. This included several people claiming to respresent the Red Cross. The people stealing had nothing to do whatsoever with the Red Cross. Would these same people in TV claiming a plot here, have blamed the Red Cross for the theft of tsunami monies? The allegations in this case are typical of any large charity collection drive. Instead of blaming the victims, go after the thieves. I think you will find that the people that stole funds here, do so as a career and they target anyone and everyone, no matter the victims political views. Charity thieves are brazen, selfish and the epitomy of evil. The only positive aspect to this story is that if the people are caught, there may be some street justice rendered.

1. The Red Shirts are not a charity.

2. The donators said the money went to Maem.

3. Maem is not some unknown charity scammer or someone falsely purporting to be representing the Reds. Maem is known to the Red Shirt leaders.

4. Red Shirts are not analagous to the tsunami except perhaps for the damage they've caused.

5. Red Shirts are not the Red Cross.

6. As per 3. above, Red Shirts got scammed by fellow Red Shirters.

Edited September 30, 2010 by Buchholz

[Buchholz]

Dangerously close to a bargirl thread.

Bring on the apologists!

The comparison to charity scammers and the portrayal of red shirts as victims effort was a valiant try.

[mca]

a woman from Chiang Rai said she and her fellow red-shirt supporters had donated about Bt2 million during the red-shirt rally in Bangkok, which began on March 12.

She could empathize with Thaksin. He's given Billions (with a "B") to the Reds and has diddly squat to show for it, as well.

So true. She deserves every bit of embarrassment, cause that's all she paid for.

Here's what people like that could do with their money: contribute to designation and building a park in their hometown. The lady is from Chiang Rai. So am I. I'm endeavoring to get a modest sum (less than 100,000 baht) to build a lovely hike and bike trail of 2 Km which encircles a beautiful hill alongside the Kok River. But why invest in a natural park when you can spend 25 times that amount to give to Thaksin cronies who incite people to burn down Bangkok?

What's wrong with this picture?

It's called freedom of choice no matter how misguided you may feel her to be. Why invest in a lovely hike and bike trail when you could give it to an orphanage, a charity for kids suffering from HIV. a shelter for victims of domestic abuse .....

[surangw]

like many charities most of it was probably used up by " administration"

[rametindallas]

If 'Maem' collected B2m from just one donor, I have to wonder what her total 'take' was. I am not surprised Jatuporn lost touch with her as she is probably living the High Life in a villa near the French Riviera.

[MAJIC]

So what was this woman from chang Rai expecting,from this Terrorist/lawless Mob?

Integrity,loyalty,Fairness,Democracy,Altruism?

IMO Support given to the Redshirts was a drasticly misjudged political choice on her part,which requires no sympathy for the abuse of her donation.

One could also argue that without her money,and Alledgedly Thaksins money, and others, donating to a Daily Riot Bonus,inclusive of Food,and expenses,this Tragic Episode would probably,never have happened in the first place.

Perhaps now she has learnt one of lifes hard lessons,"Beware of the Enemy within"

Som Nam Naa!

[moe666]

I am wearing a red shirt today, please send money.

[brahmburgers]

If 'Maem' collected B2m from just one donor, I have to wonder what her total 'take' was. I am not surprised Jatuporn lost touch with her as she is probably living the High Life in a villa near the French Riviera.

Jatuporn has what I call 'reverse integrity'. It's when everything a person is says is either a lie and/or the opposite is true. He caught the disease from his mentor, Thaksin.

[rubl]

He urged donors to identify themselves and provide records of their contributions so doubts about how their money was spent could be dispelled.

I'm sure the DSI would also be interested in this information

[brahmburgers]

He urged donors to identify themselves and provide records of their contributions so doubts about how their money was spent could be dispelled.

I'm sure the DSI would also be interested in this information

Right, and I'm sure doners and recipients of Red money will readily tell (who?) the truth. Right, when fly larvae gather at the North Pole to recite Shakespeare. The type of people who lead and/or contribute or receive donations to the Red shirt movement are people who don't have an inkling about what 'telling the truth' means.

[SomTumTiger]

You mean the Red Leaders are dishonest? SHOCKING!!!!

[Buchholz]

He urged donors to identify themselves and provide records of their contributions so doubts about how their money was spent could be dispelled.

I'm sure the DSI would also be interested in this information

The DSI as well as 7 other groups:

Eight panels to probe trail

BANGKOK: -- The ongoing investigation into the financial transactions of 86 individuals and companies allegedly involved in the funding of the violent red-shirt protests would focus on five groups of people with ties to ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the Anti-Money Laundering Office said yesterday.

Eight subcommittees will consist of representatives of AMLO, the National Anti-Corruption Commission, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), and the Revenue Department.

The Nation - June 18, 2010