Yingluck Says She Cannot Stop Red Shirts Bullying Abhisit

[webfact]

Yingluck says she cannot stop red shirts bullying Abhisit

By The Nation

Pheu Thai's prime-ministerial candidate Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday that she could not tell her red-shirt supporters to stop protesting against Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva during campaign rallies.

She insisted that her party had not sent people to bully Abhisit, and that she could not tell them to stop.

Yingluck said she had only heard about the bullying incident yesterday morning, adding that she wanted to see positive election campaigns so Thailand could leave the conflicts behind after a new leader was elected.

She added that she would like to call on all sides to exercise patience and express their feelings by voting on July 3.

Asked about the Democrat Party's relentless criticism of her, Yingluck said the attacks did not discourage her and that she still wanted to serve the country and lead it out of this period of conflict.

On Sunday, Abhisit called on Yingluck to get the red shirts to stop bullying him after his campaign in Samut Prakan was cut short.

Abhisit had gone to the province to help a Democrat candidate, but he had been met by several groups of red-shirt protesters carrying abusive banners and shouting insults at him.

In addition, Abhisit was forced to cancel a campaign at a market in the area after about 200 red shirts gathered to attack him verbally.

Abhisit said yesterday that he found Yingluck's refusal to stop the red shirts abusing other parties disappointing, adding that it was clear the people who had bullied him were there to show their support for Pheu Thai.

"I am disappointed to hear Yingluck say she can't do anything, because red-shirt leaders are among Pheu Thai's party-list candidates. If they can't do anything, then the situation will be very worrying," he said.

Abhisit added that the least Yingluck could have done was say that she disagreed with their behaviour and moves to disrupt the election campaigns of other parties.

Meanwhile, Sutthipol Thaweechaikarn, secretary-general of the Election Commission, said he had instructed EC officials to conduct an investigation into whether the behaviour of some red-shirt supporters had violated Article 53 of the MPs and Senators Election Act. The article prohibits anyone from using force or influence to intimidate election candidates.

Sutthipol said Samut Prakan election officials had told him that no violence had broken out and that no election candidate had filed a complaint with the provincial election office.

-- The Nation 2011-06-21

[ozsamurai]

Can't even control her party out of office, imagine what a mess it would be when/if she was in office and the money starts to flow.... Perhaps this is the same militant faction that was uncontrollable in the riots as well...

[WeeGB]

Heckling is a normal part of electioneering - if Mr Abhisit can't cope with people shouting against him, he is obviously unfit for public office, it goes with the territory. Yet another excuse by the ineffective Democrat party.

[OzMick]

Heckling is a normal part of electioneering - if Mr Abhisit can't cope with people shouting against him, he is obviously unfit for public office, it goes with the territory. Yet another excuse by the ineffective Democrat party.

True, but read the OP. When 200 people interrupt a market walk-through, that has gone past heckling to harassment and intimidation.

[geriatrickid]

Can't even control her party out of office, imagine what a mess it would be when/if she was in office and the money starts to flow.... Perhaps this is the same militant faction that was uncontrollable in the riots as well...

If you nominally supported Party A and disliked Party B to the point of voicing your criticism of the leader of Party B, would you listen to the Party leader of A if you were told to stop? I don't think so. Why do you expect a small group of voters to listen to Mme. Yingluck? Did PAD listen when various political parties asked them to stop the airport seizure?

[geriatrickid]

Heckling is a normal part of electioneering - if Mr Abhisit can't cope with people shouting against him, he is obviously unfit for public office, it goes with the territory. Yet another excuse by the ineffective Democrat party.

True, but read the OP. When 200 people interrupt a market walk-through, that has gone past heckling to harassment and intimidation.

I understand your point, but have a look at some election events in the UK, Canada, USA and the EU when the loonies come out to protest. There's some wacky group called Code Pink in the USA that can be quite effective when the disruption bug bites. Have a look at some of the videos of anti abortion groups in North America or the way in which Baroness Thatcher was assaulted by thugs. It happens. It is wrong, but it is a byproduct of an angry electorate.

[OzMick]

There is a fundamental difference between the headline and the OP's first line. She may not be able to stop them, but she certainly can TELL them to stop. Why can't she express disapproval? Perhaps her brother refuses to allow it, as it would soften the bully-boy image of the party.

"Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday that she could not tell her red-shirt supporters to stop protesting against Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva during campaign rallies."

[WeeGB]

Heckling is a normal part of electioneering - if Mr Abhisit can't cope with people shouting against him, he is obviously unfit for public office, it goes with the territory. Yet another excuse by the ineffective Democrat party.

True, but read the OP. When 200 people interrupt a market walk-through, that has gone past heckling to harassment and intimidation.

I did read the OP, it does not say anything about a market walk-through. As for there being 200 people there, I assume the reporter had a calculator.

It is, however, strange that Mr Abhisit did not file a complaint. " Sutthipol said Samut Prakan election officials had told him that no violence had broken out and that no election candidate had filed a complaint with the provincial election office."

Perhaps yet another smoke screen by the Democrats to make the opposition look bad ? This is politics, after all.

[ianbaggie]

Can't even control her party out of office, imagine what a mess it would be when/if she was in office and the money starts to flow.... Perhaps this is the same militant faction that was uncontrollable in the riots as well...

If you nominally supported Party A and disliked Party B to the point of voicing your criticism of the leader of Party B, would you listen to the Party leader of A if you were told to stop? I don't think so. Why do you expect a small group of voters to listen to Mme. Yingluck? Did PAD listen when various political parties asked them to stop the airport seizure?

That has to be the most nonsense post Ive seen on TV.com - can you give me one reason why she cant just say "please stop the heckling - the Pheu Thai Party has better standards than that" note the wording of the article. "I cannot tell them to stop" Why??? First time Ive heard a Shinawatra lost for words. Wonder if youd feel the same if the Democrats had poor little Yingluck in tears.

[OzMick]

Heckling is a normal part of electioneering - if Mr Abhisit can't cope with people shouting against him, he is obviously unfit for public office, it goes with the territory. Yet another excuse by the ineffective Democrat party.

True, but read the OP. When 200 people interrupt a market walk-through, that has gone past heckling to harassment and intimidation.

I did read the OP, it does not say anything about a market walk-through. As for there being 200 people there, I assume the reporter had a calculator.

It is, however, strange that Mr Abhisit did not file a complaint. " Sutthipol said Samut Prakan election officials had told him that no violence had broken out and that no election candidate had filed a complaint with the provincial election office."

Perhaps yet another smoke screen by the Democrats to make the opposition look bad ? This is politics, after all.

"Campaign at a market" - what do you think it means, buying a cabbage? and you don't need a calculator to assess a small crowd, and you don't need a smoke screen to make red-shirts look bad - it comes naturally (with the exception of her indoors)

[jayboy]

Perhaps yet another smoke screen by the Democrats to make the opposition look bad ? This is politics, after all.

It's beginning to look like it after the complaint by the Democrats to the EC about Abhisit's Samut Prakan visit.A neutral witness (the blogger Andrew Barrow) was there the whole time and saw nothing untoward.The red protests were orderly and well controlled.

[OzMick]

"Thida Thavornset, chairwoman of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD), told The Nation that the red shirts would not be present at Ratchaprasong on that day and would let the Democrat Party do whatever it wanted."

Ms Thida seems to be able to tell red-shirts how to behave. Perhaps Yingluk should seek her advice/assistance.

[trisailer]

She can't control peoples passions because people are fed up with empty promises that have not produced any improvement in the disparity between the rich and the poor. The income gap in Thailand is a disgrace. If you compare the incomes of the top 5th of the population to the bottom 5th the numbers are some of the worse in the world and only slightly better than African countries with civil wars.

The gap in Sweeden and Japan is 3 to 5 times

Europe and North America is 5 to 8 times

Asian neighbors of THailand 7 to 12 times

Thailand 13 to 15 times.

The difference in wealth is 69 times.

Because of the Thai tax structure poor people pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do.

These figures come from a 2009 study and little if anything has changed.

People are angry. Most revolutions got their start from the inequities in taxes. Abhisit has done nothing to address this issue because he represents the wealthy. If he was interested he would have done something.

[maidu]

In her typically intelligence-challenged manner, Ms Yingluck says two different things in the same paragraph. On the one hand, she says she cannot tell her supporters to quite bullying the opposing candidate. On the other hand she says that bullying within a political context is bad.

If she can't even tell her supporters to not bully and threaten an opponent, then what can we expect from her if/when she's the top leader in this country?

With Thaksin, we wound up with long lists of his continual lying and cheating. If Ms Yingluck's political career lasts more than this campaign, we'll wind up with long lists attesting to her vacillating lack of leadership qualities, punctuated by avoidance of issues.

[scorecard]

Heckling is a normal part of electioneering - if Mr Abhisit can't cope with people shouting against him, he is obviously unfit for public office, it goes with the territory. Yet another excuse by the ineffective Democrat party.

True, but read the OP. When 200 people interrupt a market walk-through, that has gone past heckling to harassment and intimidation.

I understand your point, but have a look at some election events in the UK, Canada, USA and the EU when the loonies come out to protest. There's some wacky group called Code Pink in the USA that can be quite effective when the disruption bug bites. Have a look at some of the videos of anti abortion groups in North America or the way in which Baroness Thatcher was assaulted by thugs. It happens. It is wrong, but it is a byproduct of an angry electorate.

Lets' be honest here please, thaksins paid mob are capable of severe violence and they do have a track record of past severe violence.

If abhisit had confronted this mob (200 thugs) people would have been hurt including people from the public & people from his party who are not violent people and have no experience of violence and they have a right to expect that people will behave in a civilized manner. Further, abhisit has a responsibility to ensure the safety of people around him, both public and his entourage.

You can quote all you like about violence etc., in other countries, that doesn't make it right. This is the same as saying that corruption exists in other countries therefore it's OK. What rubbish!

Part quote from geriatrickid: "......but it is a byproduct of an angry electorate."

What does this mean? Are we back on the crap of how the election was stolen from them / abhisit as PM is illegitimate. All of which has been explained again and again, all totally legal with examples of how somchai and samak came to the PM seat in the same situation / processes, but there are some who just don't listen because they don't want to listen.

By the way , if they are an 'angry electorate' then why don't they get angry with the local politicians, village headmen etc etc who have stolen billions of Baht, over many decades, which should have been spent on local development, the same politicians who should have ensured education was much much better in their local constituencies, and should have ensured more work opportunities came to their constitiencies, decades ago, but they didn't - nothing!

Edited June 21, 2011 by scorecard

[animatic]

Heckling is a normal part of electioneering - if Mr Abhisit can't cope with people shouting against him, he is obviously unfit for public office, it goes with the territory. Yet another excuse by the ineffective Democrat party.

True, but read the OP. When 200 people interrupt a market walk-through, that has gone past heckling to harassment and intimidation.

Exactly.

This is not just simply voicing opposition, or asking tough questions at rallies, but attempts top silence all dissenting opinions and prevent their opponents from speaking freely, and that is VERY UNDEMOCRATIC, and a Double Standard of the worst kind.

And as noted above, the intimidation will only get worse when the money is in the pipeline. Thaksin 1+2 administrations were riff with intimidation pof dissenting speech, this round,Thaksin 3 if it happens, with the Red Shirts online will be, much much worse. God help Thailand.

Edited June 21, 2011 by animatic

[ianbaggie]

She can't control peoples passions because people are fed up with empty promises that have not produced any improvement in the disparity between the rich and the poor. The income gap in Thailand is a disgrace. If you compare the incomes of the top 5th of the population to the bottom 5th the numbers are some of the worse in the world and only slightly better than African countries with civil wars.

The gap in Sweeden and Japan is 3 to 5 times

Europe and North America is 5 to 8 times

Asian neighbors of THailand 7 to 12 times

Thailand 13 to 15 times.

The difference in wealth is 69 times.

Because of the Thai tax structure poor people pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do.

These figures come from a 2009 study and little if anything has changed.

People are angry. Most revolutions got their start from the inequities in taxes. Abhisit has done nothing to address this issue because he represents the wealthy. If he was interested he would have done something.

Exactly which empty promises do you refer to? Can you state the source of your figures used here please - which 2009 study do you refer to?? Your point about the tax structure is totally untrue - only 2.6% pay into the tax system of Thailand - that figure was from a thread on this very forum less a month ago. The difference in WHAT wealth is 69 times? How does the Thai tax structure require the poor to pay more? Thailand does not have a regressive tax structure - very few countries do - the last example was mrs Thatcher trying to bring in the poll tax and we all know what happened there. Which revolution has started from an inequity in tax? Just last month Khun Abhisit met with rice farmers in Isan to raise rice prices to those requested by the farmers themselves - just because he doesnt give out credit cards for free - promise everyone they'll get rich quick if he gets his way and comes home and give away free cheap toys for school kids doesnt mean he doesnt DO anything. Try and post a little more objectively in future.

[animatic]

There is a fundamental difference between the headline and the OP's first line. She may not be able to stop them, but she certainly can TELL them to stop. Why can't she express disapproval? Perhaps her brother refuses to allow it, as it would soften the bully-boy image of the party.

"Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday that she could not tell her red-shirt supporters to stop protesting against Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva during campaign rallies."

She is actively allowing it by refusing to speak against it.

If she were a TRUE leader, she could and would put a stop to it.

But she is not, and it does not fit her brothers aims.

[whybother]

She can't control peoples passions because people are fed up with empty promises that have not produced any improvement in the disparity between the rich and the poor. The income gap in Thailand is a disgrace. If you compare the incomes of the top 5th of the population to the bottom 5th the numbers are some of the worse in the world and only slightly better than African countries with civil wars.

The gap in Sweeden and Japan is 3 to 5 times

Europe and North America is 5 to 8 times

Asian neighbors of THailand 7 to 12 times

Thailand 13 to 15 times.

The difference in wealth is 69 times.

Because of the Thai tax structure poor people pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do.

These figures come from a 2009 study and little if anything has changed.

People are angry. Most revolutions got their start from the inequities in taxes. Abhisit has done nothing to address this issue because he represents the wealthy. If he was interested he would have done something.

Do you mean that the figures came from a study from after Abhisit was in power for less than a year (and probably from research giving him less time to fix things). Thaksin was in power for 5 years. And we all know he sold his company without paying ANY tax.

[AleG]

She can't control peoples passions because people are fed up with empty promises that have not produced any improvement in the disparity between the rich and the poor. The income gap in Thailand is a disgrace. If you compare the incomes of the top 5th of the population to the bottom 5th the numbers are some of the worse in the world and only slightly better than African countries with civil wars.

The gap in Sweeden and Japan is 3 to 5 times

Europe and North America is 5 to 8 times

Asian neighbors of THailand 7 to 12 times

Thailand 13 to 15 times.

The difference in wealth is 69 times.

Because of the Thai tax structure poor people pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do.

These figures come from a 2009 study and little if anything has changed.

People are angry. Most revolutions got their start from the inequities in taxes. Abhisit has done nothing to address this issue because he represents the wealthy. If he was interested he would have done something.

Do you realize that one of the PTP proposals is to reduce corporate tax from 30 to 20 per cent? How do you think that would help reduce the gap between poor and rich?

[SomTumTiger]

Did PAD listen when various political parties asked them to stop the airport seizure?

And the broken record spins merrily along.

[SomTumTiger]

She can't control peoples passions because people are fed up with empty promises that have not produced any improvement in the disparity between the rich and the poor. The income gap in Thailand is a disgrace. If you compare the incomes of the top 5th of the population to the bottom 5th the numbers are some of the worse in the world and only slightly better than African countries with civil wars.

The gap in Sweeden and Japan is 3 to 5 times

Europe and North America is 5 to 8 times

Asian neighbors of THailand 7 to 12 times

Thailand 13 to 15 times.

The difference in wealth is 69 times.

Because of the Thai tax structure poor people pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do.

These figures come from a 2009 study and little if anything has changed.

People are angry. Most revolutions got their start from the inequities in taxes. Abhisit has done nothing to address this issue because he represents the wealthy. If he was interested he would have done something.

Is there any statement in here that is even remotely factual? lol

[trisailer]

She can't control peoples passions because people are fed up with empty promises that have not produced any improvement in the disparity between the rich and the poor. The income gap in Thailand is a disgrace. If you compare the incomes of the top 5th of the population to the bottom 5th the numbers are some of the worse in the world and only slightly better than African countries with civil wars.

The gap in Sweeden and Japan is 3 to 5 times

Europe and North America is 5 to 8 times

Asian neighbors of THailand 7 to 12 times

Thailand 13 to 15 times.

The difference in wealth is 69 times.

Because of the Thai tax structure poor people pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do.

These figures come from a 2009 study and little if anything has changed.

People are angry. Most revolutions got their start from the inequities in taxes. Abhisit has done nothing to address this issue because he represents the wealthy. If he was interested he would have done something.

Is there any statement in here that is even remotely factual? lol

Why don't you find your own facts and present them if you disagree. Mine come from a publication that I am apparently not permitted to identify. LOL

[SomTumTiger]

She can't control peoples passions because people are fed up with empty promises that have not produced any improvement in the disparity between the rich and the poor. The income gap in Thailand is a disgrace. If you compare the incomes of the top 5th of the population to the bottom 5th the numbers are some of the worse in the world and only slightly better than African countries with civil wars.

The gap in Sweeden and Japan is 3 to 5 times

Europe and North America is 5 to 8 times

Asian neighbors of THailand 7 to 12 times

Thailand 13 to 15 times.

The difference in wealth is 69 times.

Because of the Thai tax structure poor people pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do.

These figures come from a 2009 study and little if anything has changed.

People are angry. Most revolutions got their start from the inequities in taxes. Abhisit has done nothing to address this issue because he represents the wealthy. If he was interested he would have done something.

Is there any statement in here that is even remotely factual? lol

Why don't you find your own facts and present them if you disagree. Mine come from a publication that I am apparently not permitted to identify. LOL

Your own facts...obviously

[OzMick]

She can't control peoples passions because people are fed up with empty promises that have not produced any improvement in the disparity between the rich and the poor. The income gap in Thailand is a disgrace. If you compare the incomes of the top 5th of the population to the bottom 5th the numbers are some of the worse in the world and only slightly better than African countries with civil wars.

The gap in Sweeden and Japan is 3 to 5 times

Europe and North America is 5 to 8 times

Asian neighbors of THailand 7 to 12 times

Thailand 13 to 15 times.

The difference in wealth is 69 times.

Because of the Thai tax structure poor people pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do.

These figures come from a 2009 study and little if anything has changed.

People are angry. Most revolutions got their start from the inequities in taxes. Abhisit has done nothing to address this issue because he represents the wealthy. If he was interested he would have done something.

"Because of the Thai tax structure poor people pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do."

Please justify this statement, as it is it is ridiculous.

Are you talking about income tax - poor people don't pay any. But twice zero is zero, if you are referring to Thaksin's tax bill as an example of a rich person

are you talking about sales tax - not gathered on village staples. Does a poor person spend twice as much as a rich one?

are you talking about total income tax receipts - of a few million working class thais (with a real job) compared to a few thousand super-rich. Do you think it's unusual that the working class pay the majority of income tax?

Where is the link to the study so that we check your conclusion?

[sbk]

Lets all remember the pinned forum rules before we get too heated here:

[trisailer]

She can't control peoples passions because people are fed up with empty promises that have not produced any improvement in the disparity between the rich and the poor. The income gap in Thailand is a disgrace. If you compare the incomes of the top 5th of the population to the bottom 5th the numbers are some of the worse in the world and only slightly better than African countries with civil wars.

The gap in Sweeden and Japan is 3 to 5 times

Europe and North America is 5 to 8 times

Asian neighbors of THailand 7 to 12 times

Thailand 13 to 15 times.

The difference in wealth is 69 times.

Because of the Thai tax structure poor people pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do.

These figures come from a 2009 study and little if anything has changed.

People are angry. Most revolutions got their start from the inequities in taxes. Abhisit has done nothing to address this issue because he represents the wealthy. If he was interested he would have done something.

"Because of the Thai tax structure poor people pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do."

Please justify this statement, as it is it is ridiculous.

Are you talking about income tax - poor people don't pay any. But twice zero is zero, if you are referring to Thaksin's tax bill as an example of a rich person

are you talking about sales tax - not gathered on village staples. Does a poor person spend twice as much as a rich one?

are you talking about total income tax receipts - of a few million working class thais (with a real job) compared to a few thousand super-rich. Do you think it's unusual that the working class pay the majority of income tax?

Where is the link to the study so that we check your conclusion?

This information is everywhere, if you would like to dispute them than do your own research and provide your own numbers. The vat tax is 7% it is a regressive tax by any economic standard.

[SomTumTiger]

She can't control peoples passions because people are fed up with empty promises that have not produced any improvement in the disparity between the rich and the poor. The income gap in Thailand is a disgrace. If you compare the incomes of the top 5th of the population to the bottom 5th the numbers are some of the worse in the world and only slightly better than African countries with civil wars.

The gap in Sweeden and Japan is 3 to 5 times

Europe and North America is 5 to 8 times

Asian neighbors of THailand 7 to 12 times

Thailand 13 to 15 times.

The difference in wealth is 69 times.

Because of the Thai tax structure poor people pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do.

These figures come from a 2009 study and little if anything has changed.

People are angry. Most revolutions got their start from the inequities in taxes. Abhisit has done nothing to address this issue because he represents the wealthy. If he was interested he would have done something.

"Because of the Thai tax structure poor people pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do."

Please justify this statement, as it is it is ridiculous.

Are you talking about income tax - poor people don't pay any. But twice zero is zero, if you are referring to Thaksin's tax bill as an example of a rich person

are you talking about sales tax - not gathered on village staples. Does a poor person spend twice as much as a rich one?

are you talking about total income tax receipts - of a few million working class thais (with a real job) compared to a few thousand super-rich. Do you think it's unusual that the working class pay the majority of income tax?

Where is the link to the study so that we check your conclusion?

This information is everywhere, if you would like to dispute them than do your own research and provide your own numbers. The vat tax is 7% it is a regressive tax by any economic standard.

OzMick's deconstruction of your "facts" don't' allow for much of a rebuttal, imo. If you have an issue with his counterargument, make it. But the "Get your own facts" statement is polling badly.

[givenall]

Can't even control her party out of office, imagine what a mess it would be when/if she was in office and the money starts to flow.... Perhaps this is the same militant faction that was uncontrollable in the riots as well...

But Thaksin can since he speak through her mouth

[hellodolly]

She can't control peoples passions because people are fed up with empty promises that have not produced any improvement in the disparity between the rich and the poor. The income gap in Thailand is a disgrace. If you compare the incomes of the top 5th of the population to the bottom 5th the numbers are some of the worse in the world and only slightly better than African countries with civil wars.

The gap in Sweeden and Japan is 3 to 5 times

Europe and North America is 5 to 8 times

Asian neighbors of THailand 7 to 12 times

Thailand 13 to 15 times.

The difference in wealth is 69 times.

Because of the Thai tax structure poor people pay almost twice the taxes as rich people do.

These figures come from a 2009 study and little if anything has changed.

People are angry. Most revolutions got their start from the inequities in taxes. Abhisit has done nothing to address this issue because he represents the wealthy. If he was interested he would have done something.

You must be new to Thailand Abhisit Has only had three years to undo what the Thaksin led parties had years to do. Instead of allowing him to do the job they choose to divert his attention away from it with illegal seizures of property ,killings, trying to burn Bangkok down, armed invasions of hospitals and bombs left in public places.