Rift Erupts In Thailand's Red-Shirt Movement

[webfact]

Rift erupts in the red-shirt movement

By The Nation

The red-shirt movement appears split following the general election and a hardline faction has demanded for chairwoman Thida Thaworseth to step down, Thai Rath online reported on Thursday.

The rift came to light at a meeting on Wednesday when Thida scheduled to talk to key figures before holding a press conference on the movement's post-election stand.

Hardline figures, such as Prasaeng Mongkolsiri, Suporn Atthawong, Wisa Kanthap and Wipoj Apornrat, refused to meet Thida. Instead they designated Chinnawat Haboonpad as their representative.

At the meeting, Chinnawat questioned Thaida's leadership and demanded her resignation. He said Thida was no longer fit to lead the movement since her husband Weng Tojirakarn got elected under Pheu Thai Party's banner, hence triggering a conflic of interest between the party and the movement.

He proposed to revamp the movement, arguing that the red shirts needed a make-over in order to overcome their image mired by violence.

He further stated that a legal pundit, like former charter writer Kanin Boonsuwan, should be at the movement's helm since the struggle for justice would move from the streets to the judicial and legislative corridors.

He said red hardliners would not quit the movement but organise their own activities if Thida refused to resign.

In her rebuttal, Thida said she did not want the job in the first place. She said she reluctantly assumed the movement leadership after several red-shirt leaders were either in jail or in exile abroad.

She said she suspected her leadership was being questioned because of those leaders returning from exile.

She said she won't allow the movement to revert back to the "old way" as demanded by the hardliners.

Thida's supporter Worawut Wichaidit said the red shirts should act as shield for the Pheu Thai-led government which will, in turn, help them to overcome the legal issues.

-- The Nation 2011-07-07

[whybother]

Huh? They're complaining about the conflict of interest now between the red shirt leadership and the PTP because Thida's husband is now a PTP MP.

Hasn't one of the leaders of the red shirts been a PTP(& PPP) MP for the last 4 years?

[hanuman1]

How can there be a conflict of interest if PTP = UDD? Another indication of the weakness of this simplistic and misleading formula.

[moe666]

the blind leading the blind

[IAMSOBAD]

Blind

leading

the

blind

[ballpoint]

the blind leading the blind

And it's curtains for all of us.

[IAMSOBAD]

Moe666 great minds think alike!

[jonclark]

Awww is the UDD feeling a bit 'blue' after the election. Promised so much but actually got nowt. Welcome to Taksinsworld.

The UDD is a rough assemblage of different factions who united under the banner 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' Now with the enemy gone, those friendships are being tested and found wanting.

[TAWP]

Thida's supporter Worawut Wichaidit said the red shirts should act as shield for the Pheu Thai-led government which will, in turn, help them to overcome the legal issues.

The 'Brown shirts' comes to mind...

[yoshiwara]

Each movement is but a layer of the onion supporting Thaksin.

All are expendable and infighting is not a problem for Thaksin who will of course arbitrate at end.

For the moment the red shirts are the used paper hankie, but no doubt will be kept in reserve as Thaksin's thug wing for when needed.

[SICHONSTEVE]

Huh? They're complaining about the conflict of interest now between the red shirt leadership and the PTP because Thida's husband is now a PTP MP.

Hasn't one of the leaders of the red shirts been a PTP(& PPP) MP for the last 4 years?

I was under the impression that there were many "red shirts" and red shirt leaders on the Pheu Thai party lists running for election. Then why are they bleating about one of the red shirts being a Pheu Thai MP????

Thai politics has the unique ability to surprise, confuse, astound and intrigue me (all at once) and I think that it is this that keeps me transfixed on the proceedings in wondering what is going to happen next.

AMAZING THAI POLITICS!!!!!!

[Nisa]

All that matters (and what I wonder) is whose side is Thaksin supporting?

[renaissanc]

Each movement is but a layer of the onion supporting Thaksin.

All are expendable and infighting is not a problem for Thaksin who will of course arbitrate at end.

For the moment the red shirts are the used paper hankie, but no doubt will be kept in reserve as Thaksin's thug wing for when needed.

When the anti-Thaksin demonstrators eventually take to the streets, they will face the physical intimidation of the Red Shirt mobs. the violence will increase from then onwards. I feel a sneeze coming on .... Ahh-coup!

[REM]

Called it before the election. I like the simplistic formula, so easy to predict!!!!

[whybother]

Each movement is but a layer of the onion supporting Thaksin.

All are expendable and infighting is not a problem for Thaksin who will of course arbitrate at end.

For the moment the red shirts are the used paper hankie, but no doubt will be kept in reserve as Thaksin's thug wing for when needed.

When the anti-Thaksin demonstrators eventually take to the streets, they will face the physical intimidation of the Red Shirt mobs. the violence will increase from then onwards. I feel a sneeze coming on .... Ahh-coup!

Yay for Red Democracy. Intimidate anyone that protests against them.

[OzMick]

"Hardline figures...." are concerned about "........... their image mired by violence." Well they might be - how do they think they got to this situation.

How does this fit with "We did nothing wrong!"?

If there is a complete rift, will we have dark reds and light reds - magentas and vermilions, or fuschias and crimsons? Do these translate into thai?

[Credo]

The red-shirts have a good chance of going the way of the yellow-shirts. Both organizations were formed for a singular purpose. Once the purpose is achieved (or the problem allieviated), they really have no reason to exist. They can try and find a cause, but this doesn't usually work well.

This has to do with group dynamics. Groups such as these have a short shelf-life. That can be reconstituted if need be, however.

[Roadman]

Bands of thieves, murderers and general scumbags forming the Pheu Thai. Like Thaksins mess's prior to the 2006 required coup to clean out the trash, it will only be a matter of time before this lot implode with their greed and in fighting, and the Army will be needed to clean them out again.

Starting to agree with a few other posters in perhaps the wisest thing the Democrats did was not win this election. Sadly though it will be Thailand as a whole that is going to go through the whole process to nowhere again with this Red scum.

[Ricardo]

I'm not fully up-to-speed on the individual-politics of these several individual Red-Shirt leaders, but the thought does occur that this concerted attack on Khun Thida's former-leadership, which they've found helpful for the past several months at least, might simply be because of her stated non-Thaksin-loyalist position ?

Now that the election's over, and PTP/UDD has got its 53% (of MPs) and 44% (of voters) governing-result, they can afford to weed out the unbelievers.

[SICHONSTEVE]

Each movement is but a layer of the onion supporting Thaksin.

All are expendable and infighting is not a problem for Thaksin who will of course arbitrate at end.

For the moment the red shirts are the used paper hankie, but no doubt will be kept in reserve as Thaksin's thug wing for when needed.

When the anti-Thaksin demonstrators eventually take to the streets, they will face the physical intimidation of the Red Shirt mobs. the violence will increase from then onwards. I feel a sneeze coming on .... Ahh-coup!

Do you really believe this will happen - jump on the "tedium" bandwaggon you may, but I think you will be disappointed when it doesn't happen as the situation is so different to before and not conducive to promoting a coup!!! Unless.......Yingluck attempts to bring her brother back when he's better of in a majority of people's minds being anywhere ELSE in the world rather than in Thailand as he raped it and ran for cover and people either knew this or are starting to appreciate it now.

I don't think this will happen either as Yingluck is surely more savvy than this and must know that it will back fire big time should she attempt to make this happen!!!

[Just1Voice]

Personally I don't see this as anything to either lose any sleep over, or start celebrating over. In every political and social movement, while it may have a common goal, there are varying ideologies on how to achieve that goal, and what to do once it is achieved, or until it is defeated. In the U.S. there are Republicans who act like Democrats, and vice versa.

So, before you go wringing your hands in worry, or breaking out the champagne in celebration, you might want to just sit back and watch. After all, this is just another Act in the play called Amazing Thailand.

[AjarnP]

Pray tell how a "rift" "erupts"

It sounds a bit like the hole sticking up in the road.

[SICHONSTEVE]

All that matters (and what I wonder) is whose side is Thaksin supporting?

Thaksin is old news now and will fade into history (sordid history) so I don't concur with you that it is at all to do with Thaksin now at all!!!

He won't be back in my opinion as the Thai people (and army) don't want him back and will never accept the face of Thaksin again in Thailand as he has done damage enough to the country both directly and through besmirching it's reputation as a civilised country with his incitement of terrorist activities in trying to settle his personal vendetta with seemingly EVERYONE Thai!!

Do us all a favour and keep out of Thai politics and be happy with your criminally obtained billions.

[Misterwhisper]

It's always difficult to make the blind see.

[SICHONSTEVE]

It's always difficult to make the blind see.

Or the deaf hear!!!!

[jdinasia]

How can there be a conflict of interest if PTP = UDD? Another indication of the weakness of this simplistic and misleading formula.

Not at all --- like the story said they are trying to rewrite their history ("revamp the movement, arguing that the red shirts needed a make-over in order to overcome their image mired by violence.")

Pretending to move away from the truth doesn't mean that the truth has changed. All you need to do is look at the red-shirt leadership and how many of them are now PTP MP's. The attempt now is just trying to spin the image differently.

From the "Critics of ... " thread's OP

Thida, whose husband Weng is a Pheu Thai party-list MP-elect, warned that those doubting the suitability of elected red-shirt leaders harboured ill intentions towards the ruling Pheu Thai Party, as the red-shirt movement is one of the two "legs" of the party.

That makes it fairly clear .....

Edited July 7, 2011 by jdinasia

[Cobalt60]

The fight starts to see who gets their snouts in the trough. The gravy train is in town, no room for everyone.

[Samuian]

"Thida's supporter Worawut Wichaidit said the red shirts should act as shield for the Pheu Thai-led government which will, in turn, help them to overcome the legal issues."

...seems like nobody bothers anymore, at the helm and free lunch for all!

Well, I've been taught not to swear, so I won't!

They'vegot the amnesty,even ithasn't been on any court room desk... Amazing Thailand!

Edited July 7, 2011 by Samuian

[lungmi]

Thida's supporter Worawut Wichaidit said the red shirts should act as shield for the Pheu Thai-led government which will, in turn, help them to overcome the legal issues.

The 'Brown shirts' comes to mind...

Yes, SA against SS

[Steely Dan]

This is what you get if there aren't enough nipples on the sow. See MP's jetting off to Dubai for more of the same.