Arab Revolts 'Re-Energise' Thailand's Red Shirts - Interview With Nattawut

[webfact]

Arab revolts 're-energise' Thailand's Red Shirts

by Thanaporn Promyamyai

BANGKOK, March 11, 2011 (AFP) - Popular uprisings in the Middle East have galvanised Thailand's anti-government "Red Shirts", one of their leaders says, as the movement gears up for a major rally in Bangkok this weekend.

"The wind of change that's blowing through the Arab world is re-energising the Red Shirts who are still hurting and tired from fighting last time. But the fight will go on," Nattawut Saikuar, who was among those leaders recently freed on bail, told AFP in an interview.

The release on bail of seven senior Red figures after nine months in prison is also expected to re-invigorate the opposition movement, which was behind two months of demonstrations last year in Bangkok that turned deadly.

Tens of thousands of Red Shirts have joined a series of peaceful gatherings in the capital recently and even more are expected to turn out on Saturday to mark the first anniversary of the start of the 2010 rally.

Thai society remains deeply divided following last year's unrest, the country's worst civil violence in decades.

The kingdom's colour-coded political factions have returned to the streets ahead of elections Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has indicated he will call by the middle of this year.

"We expect that in the next few months, when we have a new general election, the situation will return more and more to normalcy," said government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn.

"It will take a few more years before we're back fully. But in the meantime we need to make sure ... the minority groups do not hold Thailand hostage," he added.

Nattawut and some of his fellow Red Shirt leaders hope to stand for parliament as candidates of the opposition Puea Thai party. If successful, they would enjoy immunity from prosecution.

The Red leaders face terrorism charges linked to last year's demonstration, during which about 90 people -- mostly civilians -- were killed and 1,900 hurt in clashes between protesters and troops in April and May.

Success at the ballot box would not be the end of the Reds' struggle, Nattawut said.

"We are looking to take the Red Shirts' fight beyond the elections. Our aim is to prevail over the elite in Thailand and ensure sovereignty truly belongs to the Thai people," he said.

The mainly rural, working class Reds are broadly loyal to fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and lives overseas to avoid a jail sentence for corruption imposed in absentia.

They view Abhisit's administration as undemocratic -- a charge the government denies -- because it came to power in 2008 in a parliamentary vote after a court ruling threw out the previous administration.

"We love Thaksin but we are fighting for democracy," Nattawut said. "But if getting democracy helps Thaksin then that's no bad thing."

The Reds' demonstration, which attracted an estimated 100,000 people at its peak, came to a bloody end last May after armoured vehicles backed by soldiers firing live ammunition moved in to break up the gathering.

After the crackdown, dozens of buildings were set ablaze across Bangkok, including a major shopping complex and the stock exchange.

The government says Red Shirt protesters started the fire at the Central World mall, but the movement accuses the military of responsibility.

Another senior Red, Kokaew Pikulthong, who ran unsuccessfully as a candidate in a Bangkok by-election last year while in prison, said he was optimistic the leaders would be exonerated of any wrong-doing.

"We're confident that we didn't violate any laws," he said.

The top Reds' bail conditions forbid them from making comments likely to incite unrest, but they are expected to make an appearance at Saturday's rally, which could also include a phone-in by Thaksin.

Their role within the movement is now unclear, however, because while they were in prison a new generation of leaders came forward to take their place, promising a peaceful struggle against Abhisit's government.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-03-11

[TAWP]

Translation: "We hope it has re-energized them, we really have no clue."

A side-note is that most Red Shirts seem to have no idea/extremely shallow insight about the current events in the middle eastern and north African countries. So I think they are being overly optimistic -- but they are also very much able to [mis]use the current events to lace it with their propaganda and try to push the Red Shirt [fans] over the coming month with the help of it.

[whybother]

Aren't all of the North African protests trying to over throw a leader who has been in power for decades?

Which leader are the red shirts trying to overthrow?

[happyrobert]

The peasants are revolting!

[samtam]

Could Abhisit and his government, or the person doing the translation, please use NORMALITY instead of NORMALCY. They both mean the same, but it's not a word normally used in good English, and to a native English speaker it sounds very out of place.

"We expect that in the next few months, when we have a new general election, the situation will return more and more to normalcy," said government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn.

[animatic]

Wishful coat-tail clinging.

[animatic]

Could Abhisit and his government, or the person doing the translation, please use NORMALITY instead of NORMALCY. They both mean the same, but it's not a word normally used in good English, and to a native English speaker it sounds very out of place.

"We expect that in the next few months, when we have a new general election, the situation will return more and more to normalcy," said government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn.

Not really an issue.

normalcy

[nawr-muhl-see] –noun

the quality or condition of being normal, as the general economic, political, and social conditions of a nation; normality: After months of living in a state of tension, all yearned for a return to normalcy.

Origin: 1855–60; normal + -cy

Edited March 11, 2011 by animatic

[sirchai]

Could Abhisit and his government, or the person doing the translation, please use NORMALITY instead of NORMALCY. They both mean the same, but it's not a word normally used in good English, and to a native English speaker it sounds very out of place.

"We expect that in the next few months, when we have a new general election, the situation will return more and more to normalcy," said government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn.

Is there good and bad English? At least normalcy has got the same meaning than normality.

Normalcy is a situation in which everything is normal. And I guess that's what they're trying to say.

:jap:

[patjem]

Could Abhisit and his government, or the person doing the translation, please use NORMALITY instead of NORMALCY. They both mean the same, but it's not a word normally used in good English, and to a native English speaker it sounds very out of place.

"We expect that in the next few months, when we have a new general election, the situation will return more and more to normalcy," said government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn.

Not really an issue.

normalcy

[nawr-muhl-see] –noun

the quality or condition of being normal, as the general economic, political, and social conditions of a nation; normality: After months of living in a state of tension, all yearned for a return to normalcy.

Origin: 1855–60; normal + -cy

Oxford English, no less, albeit less-oft applied than it's synonym 'normality' in common English speech.

[Thailand]

Aren't all of the North African protests trying to over throw a leader who has been in power for decades?

Which leader are the red shirts trying to overthrow?

They are probably unaware that the Middle Eastern despots are unelected unlike the current Thai govt which is sort of elected.

If they (the Reds) concentrate on election preparations then that would be much more in their favour and may possibly achieve their objectives.

[rubl]

From the OP:

"The wind of change that's blowing through the Arab world is re-energising the Red Shirts who are still hurting and tired from fighting last time. But the fight will go on," Nattawut Saikuar, who was among those leaders recently freed on bail, told AFP in an interview.

What k. Nattawut says is that what happens in the Arab World has a value, significance which is recognised and therefor helps red-shirts in Thailand. I don't want to sound too condescending, but I'm afraid someone has to explain to the red-shirts what the problems are about and translate it to Thai circumstances. For k. Nattawut that may simply be a recap of one of his speeches last March - May 2010 with 'Arab' thrown in every once in a while. May I suggest he also starts to refer to the 'fight for democracy' in Wisconsin, USA? Also refer to ICC please, who were asked by the UN to have a look at the 'possible crime against human rights' there

[canuckamuck]

The peasants are revolting!

"You can say that again"

Classic Wizard of id.

[Bagwan]

If the Arab revolt is to give any Thai body encouragement to continue their struggle I should have that it would be the militant Muslims down south.

[animatic]

If the Arab revolt is to give any Thai body encouragement to continue their struggle I should have that it would be the militant Muslims down south.

Spot on!

[hyperdimension]

Our aim is to prevail over the elite in Thailand

This further confirms their struggle for power. They want to be the elite that has the upper hand over rival elites.

The cries for "democracy" are just the means to grab power and take over.

[yoshiwara]

Let us be clear.

In Egypt the corrupt and autocratic leader was removed by the army.

In Thailand the corrupt and autocratic leader wishes to return and install his cronies into the army.

Even the forum red cheerleaders might have trouble pushing this link too much despite their 'we are the people' histrionics.

[Jingthing]

Yeah the Arab link doesn't work, but politically incorrect as this might be, if the red propagandists can sell that new lie to their angry masses, what difference does it make?

[yoshiwara]

Yeah the Arab link doesn't work, but politically incorrect as this might be, if the red propagandists can sell that new lie to their angry masses, what difference does it make?

Firstly it can make a difference how far the echo can reach, but Thai red followers do not really give a sh*t what is happening in North Africa. The leaders will no doubt be pushing the angle to the international press to get some support for their activist narrative and of course a few sociology academics and over-excited expats will try to swallow the story whole. Remember any lie anything which might support Thaksin's possible return is the golden rule.

Edited March 12, 2011 by yoshiwara

[Lite Beer]

A cryptic post has been removed.

[rubl]

The other newspaper mentioned just a moment ago that k. Nattawut complained that in the past year 'we' have suffered excruciating pain and been suppressed by the elite. On the private satellite station he invited his brothers and sisters to come to the party tonight.

(other link, same article: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gGI1ON2HVrrMxrKPKqyX0qJrpr5Q?docId=CNG.a02012aae39ef7633415c33c7bb96572.7f1 )

As mentioned in another topic the red-shirts or the UDD faction of them are not communists, but they have just copied the terminology and propaganda tactics. We certainly suffered especially those who talked their supportes into a frenzy and surrendered before any of their blood could be spilled.

Waiting for news on k. Thaksin's phone-in / video-in. He said before he would stand behind them, not know them, get me back I have the solution. At least k. Thaksin never really mentions 'elite', probably he realises he's one of them

Edited March 12, 2011 by rubl

[roamer]

You can not compare Arab despots with elected Thai government's.

In Thailand you can elect whatever government you want. It is the will of the people that triumphs at the ballot box.

Of course, it does help if the military approve of the voters choice.

And as we all know, that cornerstone of democracy, the right to free speech and a free press is alive and well in LOS.

May you get what you wish for. :jap: