Red-Shirts Vow To Protect PM Yingluck, Thai Govt

[webfact]

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Reds vow to protect PM, govt

By Somroutai Sapsomboon

The Nation

"We will act as a bodyguard for the government and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra" : red shirt leader and Pheu Thai party-list MP Kokaew Pikulthong.

Red shirts will act as the bodyguard for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and the Pheu Thai government, red-shirt leader Kokaew Pikulthong vowed yesterday.

Critics have said the red shirts, as a political movement, should have dissolved after the victory of the Pheu Thai Party and would bring problems for the government if they continued their role in politics - but Kokaew disagrees.

"The red-shirt movement cannot stop its role. We have three or four goals to achieve and will never stop until the goals have been reached. We want real democracy, one standard judicial system and national reconciliation. We want Thai people to love each other as before, to turn our country back to the smiling Siam," Kokaew said during an exclusive interview with The Nation.

Kokaew is one of the red-shirt leaders jailed for nine months after the red rally was dispersed last year. He later became a Pheu Thai party-list MP.

"We also expect the Pheu Thai government to help us to achieve these goals - so we will encourage, support and protect the government to do the job. We could say we will be acting as the bodyguard for the government and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra," he added.

On the day the government delivered its policy last week, a group of red shirts assaulted two students who put a wreath in front of the Parliament. It was an event that hurt the image of the government.

Kokaew, is now a party-list MP of the Pheu Thai party, explained there were a number of reasons to keep the red shirts together with the government. He said most red shirts were worried about the situation.

"Although Pheu Thai won victory in the election, it is difficult to anticipate how long the government will last. We cannot trust the situation. It could be something like the government under late Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat,"

The Pheu Thai party-list MP said the existence and presence of the red-shirted group could [make] opponents [think again].

"Some factions in the military who dislike the government might seek opportunities to stage a coup d'etat or they might use extra power to topple the government. I never trust them in this situation. It's better to have a powerful mass like the red shirts. If the red shirts [remain] strong, the military cannot intervene in the government," he said.

Kokaew tried to insist that amnesty for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was not their aim. "Thaksin's opponents might not believe us, but time will give you an answer," he replied with an answer many might say was hard to believe.

Asked about how red shirts could be held responsible to the law, Kokaew said if there was anything in public opinion that could be deemed an improper act or against the law, it was the red-shirt leaders' duty to take control.

He said the leaders had to make red shirts understand that behaving would help reduce the burden on the government.

"We want Yingluck's government to last long, at least to complete its four year term. We will do our best to

protect the government and prevent opponents from using the red shirts as a pretext to attack the government,"

"I think we (the red shirts) all understand we have sacrificed even our lives to install this government, some of us are now still in the prison. We have the government, why don't we do our best to protect it?" he said.

Last week and again yesterday the Yingluck government appointed red-shirt leaders to political positions, including those of adviser and minister's secretary.

Kakaew said the appointments were expected as the red-shirt movement had helped Pheu Thai. The appointments were thus Yingluck's thanks to the red-shirt leaders, in a way.

He said he believed Yingluck wanted to appoint some red shirt leaders as ministers. But she baulked because of the tense political situation and moves to help the country achieve reconciliation.

-- The Nation 2011-08-31

[looping]

Asked about how red shirts could be held responsible to the law, Kokaew said if there was anything in public opinion that could be deemed an improper act or against the law, it was the red-shirt leaders' duty to take control.

Mr.T's coup insurance, he'll come back stronger than ever.

[Colin Yai]

Asked about how red shirts could be held responsible to the law, Kokaew said if there was anything in public opinion that could be deemed an improper act or against the law, it was the red-shirt leaders' duty to take control.

Mr.T's coup insurance, he'll come back stronger than ever.

Oh my Buddha, shade's of Mao and the "red guard " in China, ahh yes the "good old days" could be returning !. Edited August 30, 2011 by Colin Yai

[siampolee]

As has been forecasted a totalitarian state is in the making by the Red Shirts and their political ideals and philosophies. Brother No.1 is stalking in the background and acting as the catalyst for upcoming social unrest to fulfil his plans and the continued looting of Thailand and the indoctrination of the people to sate his maniacal ego with its insatiable lust for absolute power.

The statements made by the likes of Pheu Thai party-list MP Kokaew Pikulthong (incedentally not an elected M.P. but someone who has been forced upon the electorate like many others) is tantamount to incitement by virtue of the statement content.

The Pheu Thai party-list MP said the existence and presence of the red-shirted group could [make] opponents [think again].

Indeed a thinly veiled threat that the Red Shirt leadership is intent like Brother No1in fomenting social unrest much like as already been stated by Colin Yai regarding Mao Tse Tung and his Red Guard movement.

It will be interesting to see just how things progress in the next twelve months. Will the future be one of bloody conflict fuelled by a rabid Red Shirt movement in their attempts to overthrow the machinery of state so as Brother No.1 can return, or will other factors come into play?

One is prompted to ask just who is actually leading the Red Shirt movement in reality, perchance the puppet master is pulling more strings than we know about both physically and financially?

Methinks whatever happens it will be an ugly scenario.

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men."

(John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, first Baron Acton)

"Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it"

(William Pitt, the Elder)

The two quotes above to mind encapsulate the current situation succinctly,therein sad to say is the frightening truth.

Edited August 31, 2011 by siampolee

[Colin Yai]

As has been forecasted a totalitarian state is in the making by the Red Shirts and their political ideals and philosophies. Brother No.1 is stalking in the background and acting as the catalyst for upcoming social unrest to fulfil his plans and the continued looting of Thailand and the indoctrination of the people to sate his maniacal ego with its insatiable lust for absolute power.

The statements made by the likes of Pheu Thai party-list MP Kokaew Pikulthong (incedentally not an elected M.P. but someone who has been forced upon the electorate like many others) is tantamount to incitement by virtue of the statement content.

The Pheu Thai party-list MP said the existence and presence of the red-shirted group could [make] opponents [think again].

Indeed a thinly veiled threat that the Red Shirt leadership is intent like Brother No1in fomenting social unrest much like as already been stated by Colin Yai regarding Mao Tse Tung and his Red Guard movement.

It will be interesting to see just how things progress in the next twelve months. Will the future be one of bloody conflict fuelled by a rabid Red Shirt movement in their attempts to overthrow the machinery of state so as Brother No.1 can return, or will other factors come into play?

One is prompted to ask just who is actually leading the Red Shirt movement in reality, perchance the puppet master is pulling more strings than we know about both physically and financially?

Methinks whatever happens it will be an ugly scenario.

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men."

(John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, first Baron Acton)

"Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it"

(William Pitt, the Elder)

The two quotes above to mind encapsulate the current situation succinctly,therein sad to say is the frightening truth.

Yeah SP I concur ,a truly frightening scenario ,it makes one wonder just what might have happened if the PTP had lost the GE !!!

[dominique355]

And that is the understanding of democracy, separation of power and rule of law of an elected member of the Thai parliament!

Scary. Pictures of Germany 1933 with an "elected" prime minister (chancellor) and his Schutzstaffel come back.

The question is, can the present PN control these hordes? I am afraid not.

[virtualtraveller]

It will be interesting to see just how far the red shirts get. For one, his assertion that they aren't trying to bring Thaksin back and time will prove him right means that their money flow will stop, which means a lot less 'show of support'.

One of their four stated goals is reconciliation, just how they plan to achieve this by assaulting others is a mystery.

He speaks of one standard in the judiciary, which should also mean respecting the outcome of the law, even if it results in your cheating party being disbanded (come on, you can't deny the whole things is being run by a criminal in Dubai).

These guys aren't very bright and aren't very politically savvy, all they know is how to organise a protest that breaks the law and intimidates to force their point of view. Now they are within the system, and sooner or later going to find that the present govt doesn't meet their weird expectations.

I predict they will bicker, splinter, fall foul of this govt and be told in no uncertain terms by Thaksin to back off and wind their necks in, eventually.

[scorecard]

Quote, from Kokaew:

"Asked about how red shirts could be held responsible to the law, Kokaew said if there was anything in public opinion that could be deemed an improper act or against the law, it was the red-shirt leaders' duty to take control."

Perhaps it's lost in the translation but the way it read now; no mention of respecting the laws of Thailand, just red shirt monitoring and taking red shirt style corrective action. (Why does the CM red 51 thug group come to mind?)

Strange, in the early part of the interview he says: "The red-shirt movement cannot stop its role. We have three or four goals to achieve and will never stop until the goals have been reached. We want real democracy, one standard judicial system and national reconciliation. We want Thai people to love each other as before, to turn our country back to the smiling Siam," Kokaew said......

Kokaew has attended two good learning institutes which hopefully have given him some broad education, he should be well aware of the mechanisms of developing and maintaining democracy including the understanding that groups like the red shirts given their history don't have credibility in term of building and maintaining 'quality democracy' (their own term - whatever it means)for many reasons. Just one reason is that he and his red shirt co-leaders have never once (in the whole history of the udd - red shirts) given a presentation, joined a discussion panel, debated, handed out literature, to explain the concept of democracy, to explain the pillars of democracy, etc etc.

Edited August 31, 2011 by scorecard

[Siam Simon]

"On the day the government delivered its policy last week, a group of red shirts assaulted two students who put a wreath in front of the Parliament."

Two students? Can't this media group just be honest and give the correct description of two middle-aged men?

[Who, me ?]

"On the day the government delivered its policy last week, a group of red shirts assaulted two students who put a wreath in front of the Parliament."

Two students? Can't this media group just be honest and give the correct description of two middle-aged men?

Yes, I agree with you on this point

BUT, it does not change the fact that they were beaten because they wanted to voice their opinion....

[OzMick]

"..... Kokaew said if there was anything in public opinion that could be deemed an improper act or against the law, it was the red-shirt leaders' duty to take control."

This statement needs to be read carefully.

"In public opinion" is merely another way of saying "In our opinion."

" .....an improper act OR against the law...." which obviously includes legal acts which he considers improper - court decisions perhaps?

"....... the red-shirt leaders' duty to take control." And there was I thinking this was a function of the Police, with the soon-to-be commander with family connections.

The bit about being responsible to the law was ignored as irrelevant.

I'm pretty sure that "real democracy" doesn't have political parties with their own paramilitaries. "...presence of the red-shirted group could [make] opponents [think again]." Hopefully, supporters as well.

I also noticed that he seemed to recognise the governments of Samak and Somchai as being legitimate, but seems unable to grasp that the process which saw the government changed was also legitimate. Hard to defend some ideal when you don't understand it - I wonder how many of them have any idea.

[Cayenne]

Hey Kokaew, maybe you should do a little study of history about the Sturmabteilung "brown shirts" in Hitler's Germany. You guys might not be as well trained as they were, but the ambition, radicalism, and intimidation tactics are all the same. You will get your dues soon just like they did.

[dru2]

Ochlocracy:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_forms_of_government

Not a word one hears everyday... but one to conjure with.

Also a term that, unfortunately, comes to mind with increasing frequency nowadays.

[rametindallas]

Asked about how red shirts could be held responsible to the law, Kokaew said if there was anything in public opinion that could be deemed an improper act or against the law, it was the red-shirt leaders' duty to take control.

Mr.T's coup insurance, he'll come back stronger than ever.

Oh my Buddha, shade's of Mao and the "red guard " in China, ahh yes the "good old days" could be returning !.

More like the Brown Shirts of Germany's National Socialist Party of the early 1930s, They will prevent any repeat of the Yellow Shirt protest of 2006.

[rametindallas]

"On the day the government delivered its policy last week, a group of red shirts assaulted two students who put a wreath in front of the Parliament."

Two students? Can't this media group just be honest and give the correct description of two middle-aged men?

picking at nits misses the point that citizens should be free to peacefully protest whether they are 'students' or not.

[scotbeve]

"On the day the government delivered its policy last week, a group of red shirts assaulted two students who put a wreath in front of the Parliament."

Two students? Can't this media group just be honest and give the correct description of two middle-aged men?

Yes, I agree with you on this point

BUT, it does not change the fact that they were beaten because they wanted to voice their opinion....

Beaten? I do not recall anywhere in the media where the word "beaten" was used. Please enlighten me.

[whybother]

Beaten? I do not recall anywhere in the media where the word "beaten" was used. Please enlighten me.

One red shirt hit the pair with a roll of hard paper and kicked them

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/beat

beat (bt)

v. beat, beat·en (btn) or beat, beat·ing, beats

v.tr.

1.

a. To strike repeatedly.

b. To subject to repeated beatings or physical abuse; batter.

c. To punish by hitting or whipping; flog.

What word would you like to use?

[tlansford]

"On the day the government delivered its policy last week, a group of red shirts assaulted two students who put a wreath in front of the Parliament."

Two students? Can't this media group just be honest and give the correct description of two middle-aged men?

Yes, I agree with you on this point

BUT, it does not change the fact that they were beaten because they wanted to voice their opinion....

Or - as has already been put forward and justified elsewhere - these people were not voicing their opinion, but engaged in a deliberate provocation, precisely, in order to cause an incident which could then be used to hammer the current gov't - which in fact is the current situation, and one could claim that they achieved exactly what they wanted to achieve.

the fact that they 'just wanted to voice their opinion' is not a given.

[tlansford]

this article is so bad on so many levels.

The Nation recently did another "Exclusive Interview" which, while short, posed questions and quoted answers.

It would have been much more interesting and more intelligible if The Nation had done the same with this "interview".

[OzMick]

"On the day the government delivered its policy last week, a group of red shirts assaulted two students who put a wreath in front of the Parliament."

Two students? Can't this media group just be honest and give the correct description of two middle-aged men?

Yes, I agree with you on this point

BUT, it does not change the fact that they were beaten because they wanted to voice their opinion....

Or - as has already been put forward and justified elsewhere - these people were not voicing their opinion, but engaged in a deliberate provocation, precisely, in order to cause an incident which could then be used to hammer the current gov't - which in fact is the current situation, and one could claim that they achieved exactly what they wanted to achieve.

the fact that they 'just wanted to voice their opinion' is not a given.

Right - they wanted to be provocative, I'll accept that.

So which is illegal, crude and brutish behaviour - being provocative or criminal assault?

Could it be that they were being provocative to prove a point; that parliament is surrounded by a pack of thugs?

Is "provocative" political dissent now punishable by assault by the ruling party's paramilitary?

Is that what you call democracy?

One excuse I heard was that the wreath had a large clock in it. As the parliamentary debate was closed early, the symbolism is grasped fairly easily, but the red shirts immediately thought "It's a bomb!" Of course, they could be much more familiar with bombs than symbolism.

Edited August 31, 2011 by OzMick

[Who, me ?]

"On the day the government delivered its policy last week, a group of red shirts assaulted two students who put a wreath in front of the Parliament."

Two students? Can't this media group just be honest and give the correct description of two middle-aged men?

Yes, I agree with you on this point

BUT, it does not change the fact that they were beaten because they wanted to voice their opinion....

Beaten? I do not recall anywhere in the media where the word "beaten" was used. Please enlighten me.

would "roughed" sound better to you?

Playing with words seems to be a fun game, huh !!

[ballpoint]

Asked about how red shirts could be held responsible to the law, Kokaew said if there was anything in public opinion that could be deemed an improper act or against the law, it was the red-shirt leaders' duty to take control.

Mr.T's coup insurance, he'll come back stronger than ever.

Oh my Buddha, shade's of Mao and the "red guard " in China, ahh yes the "good old days" could be returning !.

Or somewhere closer to home. From Rangoon in the mid 90's:

[animatic]

Ask not what the red shirts will do for your country...

Ask what the red shirts will make you do for their country.

When blind ideology drives a movement, it isn't thinking about people,

it is about ideologically installing a system with the expectation it will be better, but no certain knowledge that it will be better for the people. Most of the 'red ideologies' of the past have proven false prophets, and usually run by total charlatans, that took decades of suffering to recover from.

Leaders may say 'they know it will be good', but why would they say it will be bad... no one would follow. Some leaders don't do more than ride a movement to power, or a return to power, and then their true colors become evident... and the movement falls apart and the people are worse than before for generations.

Edited August 31, 2011 by animatic

[Colin Yai]

Asked about how red shirts could be held responsible to the law, Kokaew said if there was anything in public opinion that could be deemed an improper act or against the law, it was the red-shirt leaders' duty to take control.

Mr.T's coup insurance, he'll come back stronger than ever.

Oh my Buddha, shade's of Mao and the "red guard " in China, ahh yes the "good old days" could be returning !.

More like the Brown Shirts of Germany's National Socialist Party of the early 1930s, They will prevent any repeat of the Yellow Shirt protest of 2006.

No arguments there RTD, I do see the similarity to Hitler's "bully boys" just like you.

[scorecard]

"On the day the government delivered its policy last week, a group of red shirts assaulted two students who put a wreath in front of the Parliament."

Two students? Can't this media group just be honest and give the correct description of two middle-aged men?

Yes, I agree with you on this point

BUT, it does not change the fact that they were beaten because they wanted to voice their opinion....

Anybody notice any details of who the red shirt leaders were on the ground at parliament on that day?

Is there any evidence that the whole red movement is fully structured?

In fact is there any evidence that anybody is (at a higher level) directing people like this? Is there any planning - was this group specifically assigned by the next level to hang out at parliament on that day.

Or were they just a gang of misguided red vigilantes who think they are impressing somebody?

Edited August 31, 2011 by scorecard

[OzMick]

"On the day the government delivered its policy last week, a group of red shirts assaulted two students who put a wreath in front of the Parliament."

Two students? Can't this media group just be honest and give the correct description of two middle-aged men?

Yes, I agree with you on this point

BUT, it does not change the fact that they were beaten because they wanted to voice their opinion....

Anybody notice any details of who the red shirt leaders were on the ground at parliament on that day?

Is there any evidence that the whole red movement is fully structured?

In fact is there any evidence that anybody is (at a higher level) directing people like this? Is there any planning - was this group specifically assigned by the next level to hang out at parliament on that day.

Or were they just a gang of misguided red vigilantes who think they are impressing somebody?

And one more - who is paying them to be there?

[drdoom6996]

As has been forecasted a totalitarian state is in the making by the Red Shirts and their political ideals and philosophies. Brother No.1 is stalking in the background and acting as the catalyst for upcoming social unrest to fulfil his plans and the continued looting of Thailand and the indoctrination of the people to sate his maniacal ego with its insatiable lust for absolute power.

The statements made by the likes of Pheu Thai party-list MP Kokaew Pikulthong (incedentally not an elected M.P. but someone who has been forced upon the electorate like many others) is tantamount to incitement by virtue of the statement content.

The Pheu Thai party-list MP said the existence and presence of the red-shirted group could [make] opponents [think again].

Indeed a thinly veiled threat that the Red Shirt leadership is intent like Brother No1in fomenting social unrest much like as already been stated by Colin Yai regarding Mao Tse Tung and his Red Guard movement.

It will be interesting to see just how things progress in the next twelve months. Will the future be one of bloody conflict fuelled by a rabid Red Shirt movement in their attempts to overthrow the machinery of state so as Brother No.1 can return, or will other factors come into play?

One is prompted to ask just who is actually leading the Red Shirt movement in reality, perchance the puppet master is pulling more strings than we know about both physically and financially?

Methinks whatever happens it will be an ugly scenario.

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men."

(John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, first Baron Acton)

"Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it"

(William Pitt, the Elder)

The two quotes above to mind encapsulate the current situation succinctly,therein sad to say is the frightening truth.

Right on