Thousands Of Red Shirts Protest In Bangkok

[webfact]

Thousands of 'Red Shirts' protest in Bangkok

BANGKOK, December 10, 2010 (AFP) - Thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets of Bangkok on Friday demanding the release of their leaders, who were jailed following mass opposition demonstrations earlier this year.

Police Major General Wichai Sangparpai estimated that more than 10,000 people joined the gathering at the Democracy Monument in the historic district, eight months after deadly clashes in the same area.

About 1,000 police officers were on standby at the latest protest, where red-clad crowds shouted slogans, sang songs and hung red paper birds symbolising freedom.

It was the latest show of strength by the movement, which has defied a state of emergency to stage a series of peaceful gatherings in recent months.

A two-month rally by the Reds, many of whom back fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, attracted up to 100,000 people in April and May demanding immediate elections, but was broken up by the army.

More than 90 people ultimately died in clashes between armed soldiers and demonstrators, marking Thailand's worst civil violence in decades.

After the military crushed the rally, a small group of hardcore protesters set dozens of major buildings ablaze in the heart of Bangkok, including a shopping mall and the stock exchange.

The mainly poor and working class Reds accuse the government of being an undemocratic elite and were campaigning for immediate elections.

Abhisit refused but must call an election before his term finishes at the end of 2011.

Most of the Red Shirt leaders are now in jail facing terrorism charges or in hiding.

"We want our leaders to be released," opposition lawmaker Jatuporn Prompan told Friday's gathering.

"All the Red Shirts must be released across the country," added Jatuporn, who enjoys parliamentary immunity and is one of the few leaders in the movement not in jail.

The Thai authorities have used emergency powers introduced in April to arrest hundreds of suspects and silence anti-government media.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said this week he was likely to lift the controversial state of emergency in Bangkok and surrounding areas by the end of this year.

At one point about one-third of the country was under the state of emergency, which bans public gatherings of more than five people and gives security forces the right to detain suspects for 30 days without charge.

The authorities have, however, allowed a series of gatherings by the Red Shirts in recent months attracting thousands of people.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-12-10

[rubl]

"We want our leaders to be released," opposition lawmaker Jatuporn Prompan told Friday's gathering.

"All the Red Shirts must be released across the country," added Jatuporn, who enjoys parliamentary immunity and is one of the few leaders in the movement not in jail.

A movement which wants democracy might stop first demanding 'release our leaders' before mentioning the common red-shirts in prison (even if they don't mean it).

[kuffki]

I thought Jatuporn was arrested and refused bail for failing to show up in court. Has he been granted another bail?

[whybother]

I thought Jatuporn was arrested and refused bail for failing to show up in court. Has he been granted another bail?

Yep. Pretty much straight away ...

His bail was revoked for not turning up. An arrest warrant was issued as his bail had been revoked. He turned up to court, but refused to testify. He was granted bail again.

Edited December 10, 2010 by whybother

[jdinasia]

Hey now ... the Reds are strong and POPULAR most particularly in Thaksin's homeland of Chiang Mai! There were at least 100 of them at 3 kings monument tonight!

[tominbkk]

Hey now ... the Reds are strong and POPULAR most particularly in Thaksin's homeland of Chiang Mai! There were at least 100 of them at 3 kings monument tonight!

Oooooh 100 of them. That only cost Takkie Boy about 5000 baht! :lol::lol:

Edited December 10, 2010 by tominbkk

[whybother]

Hey now ... the Reds are strong and POPULAR most particularly in Thaksin's homeland of Chiang Mai! There were at least 100 of them at 3 kings monument tonight!

Oooooh 100 of them. That only cost Takkie Boy about 5000 baht! :lol::lol:

No. He wouldn't have to pay for these ones. There are some protesters that turn up with out being paid. And it would explain the low turn out.

[jdinasia]

Hey now ... the Reds are strong and POPULAR most particularly in Thaksin's homeland of Chiang Mai! There were at least 100 of them at 3 kings monument tonight!

Oooooh 100 of them. That only cost Takkie Boy about 5000 baht! :lol::lol:

No. He wouldn't have to pay for these ones. There are some protesters that turn up with out being paid. And it would explain the low turn out.

Well, it certainly speaks against the concept of a true "paradigm" shift. I looked through the crowd but didn't see any farang

edit to add .... there were more farang at the H.S. Basketball game at Yupparat School! (and far more noise!)

Edited December 10, 2010 by jdinasia

[SomTumTiger]

10,000 Thaksin was feeling charitable on the holiday weekend!

[philw]

10,000 Thaksin was feeling charitable on the holiday weekend!

Given the circumstances and the recent events of people wearing red shirts getting shot by the army, it could mean 10,000 brave people.

And before you start, I detest Thaksin and am not a "red shirt" in the parlance of ThaiVisa.

For my first sentence please visit the Reuters website.

[whybother]

10,000 Thaksin was feeling charitable on the holiday weekend!

Given the circumstances and the recent events of people wearing red shirts getting shot by the army, it could mean 10,000 brave people.

And before you start, I detest Thaksin and am not a "red shirt" in the parlance of ThaiVisa.

For my first sentence please visit the Reuters website.

They have had many protests since May without being shot. It seems that they only get shot when they have their armed contingent amongst them.

edit: no need to go to the Reuters website for their "exclusive". It was in the Nation a month ago.

Edited December 10, 2010 by whybother

[phutoie2]

Hey now ... the Reds are strong and POPULAR most particularly in Thaksin's homeland of Chiang Mai! There were at least 100 of them at 3 kings monument tonight!

Oooooh 100 of them. That only cost Takkie Boy about 5000 baht! :lol::lol:

No. He wouldn't have to pay for these ones. There are some protesters that turn up with out being paid. And it would explain the low turn out.

Maybe because they were all out celebrating the 8 to 17 Baht increase in the daily minimum wage.

Well those in Bangers anyway,.

[jayjay0]

Hey now ... the Reds are strong and POPULAR most particularly in Thaksin's homeland of Chiang Mai! There were at least 100 of them at 3 kings monument tonight!

Were they till sober?

[philw]

10,000 Thaksin was feeling charitable on the holiday weekend!

Given the circumstances and the recent events of people wearing red shirts getting shot by the army, it could mean 10,000 brave people.

And before you start, I detest Thaksin and am not a "red shirt" in the parlance of ThaiVisa.

For my first sentence please visit the Reuters website.

They have had many protests since May without being shot. It seems that they only get shot when they have their armed contingent amongst them.

edit: no need to go to the Reuters website for their "exclusive". It was in the Nation a month ago.

You must accept that the reuters story is a development though ??

And your link title is very misleading.

The reuters item is dated Dec 10.'

It seems they only get shot when the army is on the streets..........

To paraphrase.

[whybother]

You must accept that the reuters story is a development though ??

And your link title is very misleading.

The reuters item is dated Dec 10.'

It seems they only get shot when the army is on the streets..........

To paraphrase.

Are Reuters saying any more than the Nation did a month ago? It sounds to me like they are quoting the same report.

Yes, ofcourse, as Siam Simon said. The protesters shouldn't have been dispersed. They should have been allowed to continue storming parliament and Thaicom, and taking over areas of Bangkok.

[scotinsiam]

Hey now ... the Reds are strong and POPULAR most particularly in Thaksin's homeland of Chiang Mai! There were at least 100 of them at 3 kings monument tonight!

Were they till sober?

I am wondering if you are? Is English your second language? Why would you bother insulting people who support something? I can understand you may disagree with them, but why just comment as you have.

Edited December 11, 2010 by Lite Beer
Flame removed.

[jayjay0]

10,000 Thaksin was feeling charitable on the holiday weekend!

Given the circumstances and the recent events of people wearing red shirts getting shot by the army, it could mean 10,000 brave people.

And before you start, I detest Thaksin and am not a "red shirt" in the parlance of ThaiVisa.

For my first sentence please visit the Reuters website.

Doesn't really mater where the source for this came from

("Given the circumstances and the recent events of people wearing red shirts getting shot by the army, it could mean 10,000 brave people")

It is stil so far from reality it is not worth printing..

the only people that would fall for that is people who never knew what happened. Or Thaksin supporters. First he tries a coup falls flat on his face so now he is trying the marytier routine. (sorry about the spelling)

O I am so fooled.

[givenall]

"We want our leaders to be released," opposition lawmaker Jatuporn Prompan told Friday's gathering.

"All the Red Shirts must be released across the country," added Jatuporn, who enjoys parliamentary immunity and is one of the few leaders in the movement not in jail.

A movement which wants democracy might stop first demanding 'release our leaders' before mentioning the common red-shirts in prison (even if they don't mean it).

I think Jatuporn should join his comrades in jail if he thinks they are being treated unfairly

[phiphidon]

Hey now ... the Reds are strong and POPULAR most particularly in Thaksin's homeland of Chiang Mai! There were at least 100 of them at 3 kings monument tonight!

Were they till sober?

As sober as a judge, allegedly, though I can't answer for judges, nobody can apparently.

[jayjay0]

Hey now ... the Reds are strong and POPULAR most particularly in Thaksin's homeland of Chiang Mai! There were at least 100 of them at 3 kings monument tonight!

Were they till sober?

I am wondering if you are? Is English your second language? Why would you bother insulting people who support something? I can understand you may disagree with them, but why just comment as you have.

Because I don't like people who try to destroy the nation for the greed of one man.

Show me one link where the red shirts have come out and said we were wrong we should not have turned a peaceful demonstration into a urban war with the intention of bringing back a known criminal to run the country.

What is the difference if my first language is other than English? Do you feel that makes a difference? Do you feel that having English as a first language makes you better. Kind of like being a political correct bigot?

[kuffki]

Hey now ... the Reds are strong and POPULAR most particularly in Thaksin's homeland of Chiang Mai! There were at least 100 of them at 3 kings monument tonight!

Were they till sober?

I am wondering if you are? Is English your second language? Why would you bother insulting people who support something? I can understand you may disagree with them, but why just comment as you havet.

Because I don't like people who try to destroy the nation for the greed of one man.

Show me one link where the red shirts have come out and said we were wrong we should not have turned a peaceful demonstration into a urban war with the intention of bringing back a known criminal to run the country.

What is the difference if my first language is other than English? Do you feel that makes a difference? Do you feel that having English as a first language makes you better. Kind of like being a political correct bigot?

Here you go, 2 links where Red shirts apologized for the problems they have caused.

http://www.euronews....-hospital-raid/

Edited December 11, 2010 by Lite Beer

[metisdead]

A post has been removed due to the quoted reply having been modified. A reply to that post has been removed as well:

30) Do not modify someone else's post in your quoted reply, either with font or color changes, added emoticons, or altered wording.

[Buchholz]

Because I don't like people who try to destroy the nation for the greed of one man.

Show me one link where the red shirts have come out and said we were wrong we should not have turned a peaceful demonstration into a urban war with the intention of bringing back a known criminal to run the country.

What is the difference if my first language is other than English? Do you feel that makes a difference? Do you feel that having English as a first language makes you better. Kind of like being a political correct bigot?

Here you go, 2 links where Red shirts apologized for the problems they have caused.

http://www.euronews....-hospital-raid/

Kinda struck out with both.

The youtube video is not a Red Shirt apology. It was a commercial that highlighted a number of societal problems for Thailand, many of which are not related to the Red Shirts, eg. yellow shirts at the airport, misbehaving monks, lurid newspapers, violent soap operas.

It is NOT a Red Shirt apology.

The news article inaccurately describes the Weng as "the leader of the protesters" when, in fact, there are many leaders, including Payap Panket, who led the raid storming Chulalongkorn hospital. A true apology for terrorizing a hospital full of sick patients and resulted in the evacuation of the very ill Supreme Patriarch of the Buddhist faith in Thailand might be a bit more specific in identifying the culprits. Additionally, if they really regretted it, that might include the Reds helping to locate Payap, who remains a fugitive from justice to this day.

[kuffki]

Because I don't like people who try to destroy the nation for the greed of one man.

Show me one link where the red shirts have come out and said we were wrong we should not have turned a peaceful demonstration into a urban war with the intention of bringing back a known criminal to run the country.

What is the difference if my first language is other than English? Do you feel that makes a difference? Do you feel that having English as a first language makes you better. Kind of like being a political correct bigot?

Here you go, 2 links where Red shirts apologized for the problems they have caused.

http://www.euronews....-hospital-raid/

Kinda struck out with both.

The youtube video is not a Red Shirt apology. It was a commercial that highlighted a number of societal problems for Thailand, many of which are not related to the Red Shirts, eg. yellow shirts at the airport, misbehaving monks, lurid newspapers, violent soap operas.

It is NOT a Red Shirt apology.

The news article inaccurately describes the Weng as "the leader of the protesters" when, in fact, there are many leaders, including Payap Panket, who led the raid storming Chulalongkorn hospital. A true apology for terrorizing a hospital full of sick patients and resulted in the evacuation of the very ill Supreme Patriarch of the Buddhist faith in Thailand might be a bit more specific in identifying the culprits. Additionally, if they really regretted it, that might include the Reds helping to locate Payap, who remains a fugitive from justice to this day.

was not trying to justify their action, but simply showing that they did apologize.

correct or incorrect, like or dislike, genuine or non genuine-they did do it.

PS. If commercial was not an apology then why have "sorry Thailand" in the end spoken in Thai

[rubl]

Hey now ... the Reds are strong and POPULAR most particularly in Thaksin's homeland of Chiang Mai! There were at least 100 of them at 3 kings monument tonight!

Were they till sober?

As sober as a judge, allegedly, though I can't answer for judges, nobody can apparently.

This you may call an insinuation not covered by fact, or related to the topic.

It suggest and or states the opposite meant

a.) 'sober as a judge' seems a saying (but is not)

b.) judges might been seen drunk ('allegedly' negates 'sober')

c.) judges do what they want (link to recent Dem's cases)

'As logical as Phiphidon' may become the next saying for this type of posts.

Edited December 10, 2010 by rubl

[jayjay0]

Kuffki

here is your post. and my response.

Here you go, 2 links where Red shirts apologized for the problems they have caused.

http://www.euronews....-hospital-raid/

Not sure what utube said it would not down load just showed Bangkok burning. but it was probably as idiotic as what euronews said. I will post the comment from euronews.

Speaking on Thai TV he said, '' "We apologise and will let the hospital return to normal. We will maintain our gatherings, and convince our people to keep gatherings peaceful. We will not enter the hospital again."

Hardly a apology for urban war.

Mighty big of one of the leaders for apologizing for committing war crimes against the Geneva convention. Wasn't that big of him to let the hospital return to normal. You sure have some strange friends.

[Jai Dee]

Settle down please people... enough of the off-topic diatribe and flaming.

[Buchholz]

Because I don't like people who try to destroy the nation for the greed of one man.

Show me one link where the red shirts have come out and said we were wrong we should not have turned a peaceful demonstration into a urban war with the intention of bringing back a known criminal to run the country.

What is the difference if my first language is other than English? Do you feel that makes a difference? Do you feel that having English as a first language makes you better. Kind of like being a political correct bigot?

Here you go, 2 links where Red shirts apologized for the problems they have caused.

http://www.euronews....-hospital-raid/

Kinda struck out with both.

The youtube video is not a Red Shirt apology. It was a commercial that highlighted a number of societal problems for Thailand, many of which are not related to the Red Shirts, eg. yellow shirts at the airport, misbehaving monks, lurid newspapers, violent soap operas.

It is NOT a Red Shirt apology.

The news article inaccurately describes the Weng as "the leader of the protesters" when, in fact, there are many leaders, including Payap Panket, who led the raid storming Chulalongkorn hospital. A true apology for terrorizing a hospital full of sick patients and resulted in the evacuation of the very ill Supreme Patriarch of the Buddhist faith in Thailand might be a bit more specific in identifying the culprits. Additionally, if they really regretted it, that might include the Reds helping to locate Payap, who remains a fugitive from justice to this day.

was not trying to justify their action, but simply showing that they did apologize.

correct or incorrect, like or dislike, genuine or non genuine-they did do it.

PS. If commercial was not an apology then why have "sorry Thailand" in the end spoken in Thai

Watch the original version of the video with a Thai and have them explain it to you. It was not produced by the Red Shirts (unless you are saying that the Reds are accepting responsibility for the yellow shirts at the airport, misbehaving monks, lurid newspapers, etc.) But I don't think even they are that stupid.

As for Weng's "apology" it's about disingenuous as it gets. As the only Red Leader with half a brain, he recognized what a disastrous public relations fiasco it was to storm a hospital, so in failed effort at damage control, he issued a hasty and hollow and meaningless "apology".

The hollowness is emphasized in the last part of the article when the reporter writes,

"That apology has raised questions over whether the movement is losing direction"

That question was answered a month later when they burned down 30 buildings in downtown Bangkok. Yep, Weng was really apologetic when he said,

"We will maintain our gatherings, and convince our people to keep gatherings peaceful. We will not enter the hospital again."

They didn't. They entered Central World and burned it down.... in a "peaceful gathering."

.

Edited December 11, 2010 by metisdead

[Buchholz]

Watch the original version of the video with a Thai and have them explain it to you. It was not produced by the Red Shirts (unless you are saying that the Reds are accepting responsibility for the yellow shirts at the airport, misbehaving monks, lurid newspapers, etc.) But I don't think even they are that stupid.

As for Weng's "apology" it's about disingenuous as it gets. As the only Red Leader with half a brain, he recognized what a disastrous public relations fiasco it was to storm a hospital, so in failed effort at damage control, he issued a hasty and hollow and meaningless "apology".

The hollowness is emphasized in the last part of the article when the reporter writes,

"That apology has raised questions over whether the movement is losing direction"

That question was answered a month later when they burned down 30 buildings in downtown Bangkok. Yep, Weng was really apologetic when he said,

"We will maintain our gatherings, and convince our people to keep gatherings peaceful. We will not enter the hospital again."

They didn't. They entered Central World and burned it down.... in a "peaceful gathering."

.

again for the second time, i am not justifying their action nor am i expressing support for anyone. Simply posted the links to apology being made.

again for the second time, if you do not agree with apology and if you feel it was not genuine or whatever else has nothing to do with the topic or me trying to convince you otherwise.

So you really do not need to prove your point that apology was not genuine or wrong or whatever else.

I didn't intend to imply that you were justifying their actions. I'm sorry if you took it that way.

I just wanted to convey that as an apology, Weng's was about as sorry as an excuse for one as it can get.

Perhaps jayjay should have qualified his request for one genuine apology. If he had, we'd still be waiting. In the absence of that qualifier, we have one hollow, disingenuous "apology" from Weng.

.

Edited December 10, 2010 by Buchholz

[Jai Dee]

Some argumentative posts have been deleted from this topic.