Red Shirts Affirm Sunday's Rally In Bangkok To Be Staged Peacefully

[Ricardo]

Same old dismal commentary from the wretched Farangs who have lived here too long and find the Amart Fascist regime acceptable.

Of course they think they have the majority of the opinion because no one else can offer any balance without being howled down. Oh YES! You do have the majority here. Most opposing contributors left Thai Visa long ago because of your drivvle...

Red Shirt movements are the beginning of the only hope for real democracy in Thailand whether you comfortable lot like it or not!

Is that the current "Amart Fascist regime", or the previous two PPP-led governments, who did even less for the poor, in the middle of a global economic crisis ?

And many of the opposing contributors didn't leave voluntarily, they were banned for flaming & ad-hominem attacks, in the absence of any more-persuasive arguments. I think there is more sympathy for the real poor, than you credit posters with, but they can see through the current Red Shirt leadership and their "drivvle".

Isn't it time for the traditional (at this point in the thread) post, telling us we're all sex-pats or bar-flies, who should go back to our own countries ?

[Insight]

Apparently it was quite a turn-out today judging by posts and pictures placed on Twitter.

Jutaporn also apparently read out a letter from Thaksin at the event vowing to fight on until the battle is won. I guess we can read from this they've given up attempting to convince people that "the reds are not about Thaksin"?

[Throatwobbler]

Same old dismal commentary from the wretched Farangs who have lived here too long and find the Amart Fascist regime acceptable.

Of course they think they have the majority of the opinion because no one else can offer any balance without being howled down. Oh YES! You do have the majority here. Most opposing contributors left Thai Visa long ago because of your drivvle...

Red Shirt movements are the beginning of the only hope for real democracy in Thailand whether you comfortable lot like it or not!

How can anyone be so Naive. The red shirt movement is being led by people who couldn't care less about democracy.

[Credo]

I assume the rally is over and there were no incidents that were noteworthy?

[anselpixel]

I left shortly before 8:00PM, and the crowds were dispersing pretty quickly. It was much better-attended than I expected, and the participants were very well-behaved.

[powderpuff]

Red Shirt movements are the beginning of the only hope for real democracy in Thailand whether you comfortable lot like it or not!

Red Shirt Terrorist rabble. Gang/Thug mentality.

Depriving other citizens their right to move about freely.

I'll support anyone who can guarantee my safety.

That Issan rabble shoud stay in Issan.

"Real Democracy" costs 300 baht per head. Thakseen proved that.

Edited December 19, 2010 by powderpuff

[termad]

Same old dismal commentary from the wretched Farangs who have lived here too long and find the Amart Fascist regime acceptable.

Of course they think they have the majority of the opinion because no one else can offer any balance without being howled down. Oh YES! You do have the majority here. Most opposing contributors left Thai Visa long ago because of your drivvle...

Red Shirt movements are the beginning of the only hope for real democracy in Thailand whether you comfortable lot like it or not!

i think some of us old farts might have gleaned what is likely to happen to us if the reds take charge

Thaksin said he would take revenge on the Brits in Thailand after the UK government cancelled his visa and seized his stolen assets

we could not fail to notice how the reds felt that it was ok to attack and violently intimidate anyone who did not share their red philosophy

we saw with our own eyes that Red democrasy in action, as the streets ran red with the Armys blood, buildings being burned, government officials clamouring over walls of the senate to escape thugs like Arisaman and the many, many other atrocities committed by the paid up Red faithful on behalf of the cowardly, fugitive criminal meglomaniac terrorist Thaksin and his disjointed family

please forgive me if i prefer Kuhn Abhisits version of democracy

The streets ran red with whose blood?

[termad]

Red Shirt movements are the beginning of the only hope for real democracy in Thailand whether you comfortable lot like it or not!

Red Shirt Terrorist rabble. Gang/Thug mentality.

Depriving other citizens their right to move about freely.

I'll support anyone who can guarantee my safety.

That Issan rabble shoud stay in Issan.

"Real Democracy" costs 300 baht per head. Thakseen proved that.

How much did the MPs who were bought to form Bhumjaithai and install Abhisit cost?

[whybother]

The streets ran red with whose blood?

Well, before April 10, it was a mixture of pigs blood and blood from protesters to splash around the place.

From April 10, it was a mixture of protesters and soldiers blood who were injured or killed during the protests.

[whybother]

How much did the MPs who were bought to form Bhumjaithai and install Abhisit cost?

Probably more or less the same as it cost for them to go with the PPP in the first place.

[hanssna]

Same old dismal commentary from the wretched Farangs who have lived here too long and find the Amart Fascist regime acceptable.

Of course they think they have the majority of the opinion because no one else can offer any balance without being howled down. Oh YES! You do have the majority here. Most opposing contributors left Thai Visa long ago because of your drivvle...

Red Shirt movements are the beginning of the only hope for real democracy in Thailand whether you comfortable lot like it or not!

[hanssna]

lets get a new color shirt, red and yellow's getting boring

[Buchholz]

Same old dismal commentary from the wretched Farangs who have lived here too long and find the Amart Fascist regime acceptable.

Of course they think they have the majority of the opinion because no one else can offer any balance without being howled down. Oh YES! You do have the majority here. Most opposing contributors left Thai Visa long ago because of your drivvle...

Red Shirt movements are the beginning of the only hope for real democracy in Thailand whether you comfortable lot like it or not!

i think some of us old farts might have gleaned what is likely to happen to us if the reds take charge

Thaksin said he would take revenge on the Brits in Thailand after the UK government cancelled his visa and seized his stolen assets

we could not fail to notice how the reds felt that it was ok to attack and violently intimidate anyone who did not share their red philosophy

we saw with our own eyes that Red democrasy in action, as the streets ran red with the Armys blood, buildings being burned, government officials clamouring over walls of the senate to escape thugs like Arisaman and the many, many other atrocities committed by the paid up Red faithful on behalf of the cowardly, fugitive criminal meglomaniac terrorist Thaksin and his disjointed family

please forgive me if i prefer Kuhn Abhisits version of democracy

Pro-Thaksin protesters rally in front of UK Embassy

By The Nation

Published on November 15, 2008

About 150 supporters of convicted former PM Thaksin Shinawatra rallied yesterday in front of the UK Embassy in Bangkok, criticising the British authorities for revoking Thaksin's visa.

They burnt effigies of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Foreign Secretary David Miliband to show their anger over the visas of Thaksin and his wife Khunying Pojaman being revoked.

[Buchholz]

How the Reds rally was portrayed to the world:

A Thai man wearing a face mask joins fellow anti-government "red shirt" protesters as they gather at Bangkok's shopping district, decorated in red colours December 19, 2010.

REUTERS

A Thai anti-government protester gathers with others Sunday, Dec. 19, 2010, to remember the seven month anniversary of the government's crackdown in May

AP

.

Edited December 21, 2010 by Buchholz

[hanuman1]

I left shortly before 8:00PM, and the crowds were dispersing pretty quickly. It was much better-attended than I expected, and the participants were very well-behaved.

Whether we love them, hate them, or are neutral observers with balanced views, it seems they are not going away just yet.

[whybother]

I left shortly before 8:00PM, and the crowds were dispersing pretty quickly. It was much better-attended than I expected, and the participants were very well-behaved.

Whether we love them, hate them, or are neutral observers with balanced views, it seems they are not going away just yet.

They will be around for a long time yet.

[phetaroi]

They've proven over the last couple of months that they can obey the law in regards to their protests. As long as they keep it peaceful, they should be allowed to protest. But, as soon as they step out of line, they should be arrested.

I don't have any problem with them protesting. I think it's their right. But why Thailand feels that protesters have a right to protest anywhere and anytime they want to...that I don't understand.

I used to live in Washington, D.C. Lots of protests there, but they required a permit and were restricted in times and locations. Sometimes they were allowed to protest directly in front of the Capitol or in the park just across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House. Prime locations. But they didn't get to shut the business district down completely. It almost seems to be an image game to me. Sort of, "To prove we have true democracy (LOLLOLLOLLOL) we'll place no limits on the protesters." Hence May 19.

[phiphidon]

How the Reds rally was portrayed to the world:

A Thai man wearing a face mask joins fellow anti-government "red shirt" protesters as they gather at Bangkok's shopping district, decorated in red colours December 19, 2010.

REUTERS

A Thai anti-government protester gathers with others Sunday, Dec. 19, 2010, to remember the seven month anniversary of the government's crackdown in May

AP

.

And your point in adding these photographs is? Do they add to the original discussion titled "Red Shirts Rally in Bangkok to be staged peacefully"?

One like this would be more relevant showing thousands of people rallying together peacefully, but perhaps you have another agenda?

(Original Image Source Getty Images)

[Buchholz]

How the Reds rally was portrayed to the world:

A Thai man wearing a face mask joins fellow anti-government "red shirt" protesters as they gather at Bangkok's shopping district, decorated in red colours December 19, 2010.

REUTERS

A Thai anti-government protester gathers with others Sunday, Dec. 19, 2010, to remember the seven month anniversary of the government's crackdown in May

AP

And your point in adding these photographs is? Do they add to the original discussion titled "Red Shirts Rally in Bangkok to be staged peacefully"?

point in bold and enlarged for those not seeing it earlier

Edited December 21, 2010 by Buchholz

[phiphidon]

How the Reds rally was portrayed to the world:

A Thai man wearing a face mask joins fellow anti-government "red shirt" protesters as they gather at Bangkok's shopping district, decorated in red colours December 19, 2010.

REUTERS

A Thai anti-government protester gathers with others Sunday, Dec. 19, 2010, to remember the seven month anniversary of the government's crackdown in May

AP

And your point in adding these photographs is? Do they add to the original discussion titled "Red Shirts Rally in Bangkok to be staged peacefully"?

point in bold and enlarged for those not seeing it earlier

Did they see only these images or is that the specific heading that Reuters and AP headed the images with, or did you add that heading?

[Buchholz]

How the Reds rally was portrayed to the world:

A Thai man wearing a face mask joins fellow anti-government "red shirt" protesters as they gather at Bangkok's shopping district, decorated in red colours December 19, 2010.

REUTERS

A Thai anti-government protester gathers with others Sunday, Dec. 19, 2010, to remember the seven month anniversary of the government's crackdown in May

AP

And your point in adding these photographs is? Do they add to the original discussion titled "Red Shirts Rally in Bangkok to be staged peacefully"?

point in bold and enlarged for those not seeing it earlier

Did they see only these images or is that the specific heading that Reuters and AP headed the images with, or did you add that heading?

These were the amongst the images and photo descriptions broadcast around the world by two of the largest media distribution agencies in existence.

[phetaroi]

How the Reds rally was portrayed to the world:

A Thai man wearing a face mask joins fellow anti-government "red shirt" protesters as they gather at Bangkok's shopping district, decorated in red colours December 19, 2010.

REUTERS

A Thai anti-government protester gathers with others Sunday, Dec. 19, 2010, to remember the seven month anniversary of the government's crackdown in May

AP.

Interesting that one photo depicts a man who is dressing in a Communist uniform, while the other is trying to look like...well, can't quite tell from the pic whether it's Osama or Fidel. Either way...quite telling.

Now I suppose the pro-Red Shirts on the forum here will say those are government men faking it to stir up trouble.

[hyperdimension]

Interesting that one photo depicts a man who is dressing in a Communist uniform

I wonder if he actually studied the history of communism around the world and supports the ideology.

Is there a communist faction in the UDD? We know Weng and his wife were once aligned with the communists.

Or is it that he thinks it's stylish and "cool" to be anti-establishment, without really understanding the background of the ideology or the consequences of supporting it?

Edited December 22, 2010 by hyperdimension

[phiphidon]

Interesting that one photo depicts a man who is dressing in a Communist uniform, while the other is trying to look like...well, can't quite tell from the pic whether it's Osama or Fidel. Either way...quite telling.

Now I suppose the pro-Red Shirts on the forum here will say those are government men faking it to stir up trouble.

OK, it's worth a reply. What is it about these photographs of 2 people out of 10,000 odd that is quite telling?

[Emptyset]

Interesting that one photo depicts a man who is dressing in a Communist uniform

I wonder if he actually studied the history of communism around the world and supports the ideology.

Is there a communist faction in the UDD? We know Weng and his wife were once aligned with the communists.

Or is it that he thinks it's stylish and "cool" to be anti-establishment, without really understanding the background of the ideology or the consequences of supporting it?

Yes, some of them are actually communists but those people are mostly involved with Daeng Siam. They'll also join ordinary red rallies though. But some people do just think it's cool or anti-establishment. I wouldn't read too much into it, for the most part it seems to be just the empty iconography of rebellion, like why was Che Guevara so popular with the conservative royalist PAD?

[phetaroi]

Interesting that one photo depicts a man who is dressing in a Communist uniform

I wonder if he actually studied the history of communism around the world and supports the ideology.

Is there a communist faction in the UDD? We know Weng and his wife were once aligned with the communists.

Or is it that he thinks it's stylish and "cool" to be anti-establishment, without really understanding the background of the ideology or the consequences of supporting it?

If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, then it's a duck.

[anselpixel]

Perhaps someone can explain to me what these two are up to. They offered to pose for me while I was photographing the more usual-looking suspects seen on the pickup truck.

[hanuman1]

Perhaps someone can explain to me what these two are up to. They offered to pose for me while I was photographing the more usual-looking suspects seen on the pickup truck.

Well, quite obviously the photo on the left shows the Reds' real agenda which is to have us all wear silly masks if they ever get into power.

Seriously though, I think the sign says:

"Good people of a free society" then underneath that I think it says "Surin", although the person's finger is obscuring what I think is the 'u' vowel.

I would hazard a guess that there is a certain 'camp' style to these particular protesters. It should be noted that we are told by red-haters that there is one small group of red shirts apparently that does not tolerate such 'camp' behaviour (as it often pertains to homosexuality). So either the reds are organized and the homophobic element is a load of BS, or the reds are in fact a loosely-nit umbrella group of highly varying constituents, united only in limited but clearly fundamental ways.

This makes it easier to see that the violent element was just that - a small group of individuals - like our camp friends here, or the gay-haters - rather than the movement as a whole.

Edited December 22, 2010 by hanuman1

[anselpixel]

Perhaps someone can explain to me what these two are up to. They offered to pose for me while I was photographing the more usual-looking suspects seen on the pickup truck.

Well, quite obviously the photo on the left shows the Reds' real agenda which is to have us all wear silly masks if they ever get into power.

Seriously though, I think the sign says:

"Good people of a free society" then underneath that I think it says "Surin", although the person's finger is obscuring what I think is the 'u' vowel.

Thanks.

[phetaroi]

Interesting that one photo depicts a man who is dressing in a Communist uniform, while the other is trying to look like...well, can't quite tell from the pic whether it's Osama or Fidel. Either way...quite telling.

Now I suppose the pro-Red Shirts on the forum here will say those are government men faking it to stir up trouble.

OK, it's worth a reply. What is it about these photographs of 2 people out of 10,000 odd that is quite telling?

Well let's see now. We know that the only democracy that the Red Shirts really approve is the democracy where their side wins. Sort of sounds like elections in communist nations. Weng and others in the RED Shirt movement were, indeed, communists. They chose RED shirts as their symbol...a color symbol which, at various times and places in the world has symbolized communism. There is nothing about the Red Shirt movement that has anything to do with democracy, other than that they consistently say that word.