Red Shirt Village Inaugurated In Udon Thani

[Siripon]

I have never seen a description in English of what it means to be a "red shirt village".

So far, this is the best first-hand report I have found:

http://blogs.straitstimes.com/2011/06/16/among-red-shirt-villagers-in-thailand/

Does anyone here have other information ?

Thanks,

Tom

Perhaps I can help you, a red shirt village means the villagers place a red flag on their fence or balcony to signify they are willing or agree to join demonstrations for money and that they will vore for whom the red shirts or Pheua Thai leader stipulates.

You will notice a picture of Thaksin at the front of the village is mandatory too, this is to show that whilst the red shirts believe in true democracy where everyone is equal, in fact some are more equal than others.

This leader is never to be questioned, he is above the law.

Actually none of the red leaders come from Issan, they're all from Bangkok or the South, even Kwanchai, Udon's 'favourite son' is from Supanburi.

And the Issan MPs got nothing from the recent Cabinet appointments, and to rub salt into the wounds, no Issan province will get the minimum wage of 300 baht.

How long will the red villages accept these double standards?

[Jingthing]

You don't need to be a rocket science to take one look at pictures of those red villages and see the symptoms of a dangerous totalitarian movement. Translation -- the opposite of democracy. Be afraid.

[lungmi]

My wife has just plainly said to me

What if there are non red shirt supporters how can they express their views? That is not democracy.

My wife is from a small village in Chachoengsao and is lucky enough to have a University education and see the big picture.

I have personally stated since he was in power last buying favouritism that he is a communist in a communists clothing. The set up of 'Communist' enclaves is not only immoral in Democracy it is downright dangerous for certain sections of the Population unfortunate to be born there if they don't follow the red sheep.

Whichever way you look at it across the world Red is the colour of socialism/Communism and there is no difference here.

Maoist roadmap at work, but don't mix real socialism (scandinavian countries for example) with your experience here.

[metisdead]

Posts containing possibly copyrighted pictures removed.

Do not hotlink to pictures even if they are posted on a third party web site.

This applies for all copyrighted pictures where posters are not owners.

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[sfbandung]

Lots of extremist views here. In Oz we have labor and liberal voters and people who are card carrying members. It doesn't mean they are anti democracy. They just live on one side of the political spectrum.

Without taking sides I think it's fair to say that the red shirts have indeed been the victims of anti democratic behaviour. The coup put them out of power and an election put them back. Even with all the drama about whether Yingluck is Thaksin's puppet etc etc, it is most important that democracy prevails. Whether you're red, yellow, blue, black or brown.

Being in the northeast they are natural red shirts, but my wife's family have refused to "sign up" with either side.

[Jingthing]

Nope, if they are supporting a movement with totalitarian ambitions, put into power by vote or not, that is anti-democratic. Thaksin himself has said he doesn't care about democracy. BTW, there is really no controversy over the "question" of Yingluck's puppet purpose.

[sfbandung]

Nope, if they are supporting a movement with totalitarian ambitions, put into power by vote or not, that is anti-democratic. Thaksin himself has said he doesn't care about democracy. BTW, there is really no controversy over the "question" of Yingluck's puppet purpose.

"put into power by vote or not, that is anti-democratic". Sorry, but no it isn't. If you were put into power by vote you were democratically elected.

Having totalitarian ambitions is another issue entirely and it is the role of the opposition, as well as educated and eloquent persons like yourself, to expose. To decide unilaterally that the voters "got it wrong" however and depose an elected government by way of a military coup is undemocratic in the extreme.

Let me make it clear here that I am speaking up for democracy, not Thaksin, or PTP or anyone else. I am also a fervent supporter of the judicial process and as such I believe Thaksin should come back and face the music. An attempt to bypass due process by pardons and amnesties is also undemocratic and will end in disaster.

[ianf]

So now begins the splitting of the country. North Thailand and South Thailand. Thaksin back to rule the Republic of North Thailand. There will be trouble ahead.

Quite.

The danger with declared 'Red-Villages', is that there may then be declared 'Red-Provinces' (with fire-proof provincial-buildings ?), followed eventually by a by a 'Red Country'.

This is hardly a move towards the reconciliation, which the new PM wants, perhaps she will speak-out against the trend, and explain why it's bad for Thailand ? Or perhaps she will delegate the task.

Odds on-delegate the task. More or less all tasks will be handed from him to her to them

Fascism, not communism. Red shirts = brown shirts.

Dangerous stuff.

[tlansford]

its only about, money, they intimidate, suppression, what nonsense. This is the only true opposition to the official PT party. Most of you would have never been in a Red village. Personally I go into one regular and the village has known dem supporters (albeit) not many and they are not suppressed or ostresized. Keep chanting your nonsense, theres a major wind of change blowing in

I believe you are one of the first, if not only, poster here to say that you have actually been in a red-shirt village.

[tlansford]

Well, thanks to a couple of people for some jokes - some were pretty funny. Thanks also to one poster who has some first hand experience with a red-shirt village.

I'm still looking for reporters/reports on red-shirt villages. What is a red-shirt village, maybe a list of the villages, etc.

http://blogs.straitstimes.com/2011/06/16/among-red-shirt-villagers-in-thailand/

This article from the strait times made some points that posters here might find interesting. It is a pre-election article, and without quoting from the article, ...

- they are called "Red Villages for Democracy"

- it is a symbolic tactic, the writer states that these are not exclusion zones, nor is there a parallel administration established

- the villagers actively debate / discuss politics locally in coffee shops, etc. Partly this is because community radio stations were shut down and those remaining on the air have changed their broadcasting.

- they point out that the red-shirts are a loosely organized group, not monolithic, and that there is active debate and disagreement on strategy.

- the article recounts how red-shirt speakers at different events in the province harped on the democracy theme telling people to "vote fro whoever you want", and the author noticed a sign on the wall of a coffee shop that said "Selling your vote makes you a slave"

Cheers,

Tom

[hammered]

I wonder if any reporter for the Nation or Post would deem it interesting to visit a red village and report on what it is really like. The usual is all the red scare stuff still hanging over form the last regime and the CRES anti-red campaign and of course there are extremist militant reds. I havent been to one of these villages but know loads of red shirts from a variety of backgrounds and I cant think of any of them who are militants and even the undereducated ones seem to be able to discuss politicis better than your average college student. It would be really interesting to hear honest reports of what these villages are like rather than rabid comments from those who likely have never been to one whose opinion is based largely on media driven meme

[Buchholz]

I wonder if any reporter for the Nation or Post would deem it interesting to visit a red village and report on what it is really like.

The Nation did last June.

[hammered]

I wonder if any reporter for the Nation or Post would deem it interesting to visit a red village and report on what it is really like.

The Nation did last June.

I missed that one or am going senile

[ginjag]

Well, thanks to a couple of people for some jokes - some were pretty funny. Thanks also to one poster who has some first hand experience with a red-shirt village.

I'm still looking for reporters/reports on red-shirt villages. What is a red-shirt village, maybe a list of the villages, etc.

http://blogs.straits...rs-in-thailand/

This article from the strait times made some points that posters here might find interesting. It is a pre-election article, and without quoting from the article, ...

- they are called "Red Villages for Democracy"

- it is a symbolic tactic, the writer states that these are not exclusion zones, nor is there a parallel administration established

- the villagers actively debate / discuss politics locally in coffee shops, etc. Partly this is because community radio stations were shut down and those remaining on the air have changed their broadcasting.

- they point out that the red-shirts are a loosely organized group, not monolithic, and that there is active debate and disagreement on strategy.

- the article recounts how red-shirt speakers at different events in the province harped on the democracy theme telling people to "vote fro whoever you want", and the author noticed a sign on the wall of a coffee shop that said "Selling your vote makes you a slave"

Cheers,

Tom

If your talking about Red shirt villages, where on earth do you have coffee shops to discuss democracy????

An article said red shirt speakers, were Quoted as saying ='vote for who you want" ??? what..what.

I live in a red shirt area and these said Villages are all around, believe articles if you want, read news clippings - I do, but if you lived amongst these organised closed shop areas, then you will feel and see what is going on. The biggest corruption in Thailand is LOCAL. it adds up far more than the big headlines we read- may I add that my area maybe a one off-----------------IT isn't believe me. I will be moving out of this area asap. it must be bad as I can adapt to most situes, but now wish to locate closer to good friends.

I do have some good government friends locally but they have to be careful what they talk about.

[Insight]

I wonder if any reporter for the Nation or Post would deem it interesting to visit a red village and report on what it is really like. The usual is all the red scare stuff still hanging over form the last regime and the CRES anti-red campaign and of course there are extremist militant reds. I havent been to one of these villages but know loads of red shirts from a variety of backgrounds and I cant think of any of them who are militants and even the undereducated ones seem to be able to discuss politicis better than your average college student. It would be really interesting to hear honest reports of what these villages are like rather than rabid comments from those who likely have never been to one whose opinion is based largely on media driven meme

I'd be more interested to hear a report from a foreign reporter turning up unannounced and questioning the locals on their political beliefs. If this ever happens I hope they ask the right questions before any suspecting "minders" appear ...

[Buchholz]

I wonder if any reporter for the Nation or Post would deem it interesting to visit a red village and report on what it is really like. The usual is all the red scare stuff still hanging over form the last regime and the CRES anti-red campaign and of course there are extremist militant reds. I havent been to one of these villages but know loads of red shirts from a variety of backgrounds and I cant think of any of them who are militants and even the undereducated ones seem to be able to discuss politicis better than your average college student. It would be really interesting to hear honest reports of what these villages are like rather than rabid comments from those who likely have never been to one whose opinion is based largely on media driven meme

I'd be more interested to hear a report from a foreign reporter turning up unannounced and questioning the locals on their political beliefs. If this ever happens I hope they ask the right questions before any suspecting "minders" appear ...

No reason to believe it would be much different than when people did the same in Bangkok and talked with out-of-towners there for the Red Shirt rallies.

The people from those times are quite likely to now be in Red Shirt Villages.

.

p.s. Thank you, ginjag, for your on-the-ground report.

.

Edited September 5, 2011 by Buchholz

[tlansford]

I wonder if any reporter for the Nation or Post would deem it interesting to visit a red village and report on what it is really like.

The Nation did last June.

I missed that one or am going senile

I might have found it - here is a Nation piece from the end of June :

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011/06/27/national/In-Udon-Thani-red-villagers-resist-30158761.html

It seems to focus more on how the village was being harassed by the military and the gov't rather than what it means to be a red-shirt village. But interesting...

[hammered]

I wonder if any reporter for the Nation or Post would deem it interesting to visit a red village and report on what it is really like.

The Nation did last June.

I missed that one or am going senile

I might have found it - here is a Nation piece from the end of June :

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011/06/27/national/In-Udon-Thani-red-villagers-resist-30158761.html

It seems to focus more on how the village was being harassed by the military and the gov't rather than what it means to be a red-shirt village. But interesting...

Thanks. The interesting bit was where the guy said they set the villages up to show they werent afraid of the state after the April/May put down. The comment about if the Thai people accept another coup they are stupid is similar to things I have heard.

[Emptyset]

I wonder if any reporter for the Nation or Post would deem it interesting to visit a red village and report on what it is really like.

The Nation did last June.

I missed that one or am going senile

I might have found it - here is a Nation piece from the end of June :

http://www.nationmul...t-30158761.html

It seems to focus more on how the village was being harassed by the military and the gov't rather than what it means to be a red-shirt village. But interesting...

A Spanish journalist also paid a visit to one: http://english.periodismohumano.com/2011/08/05/thailand%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9Cred-towns%E2%80%9D/

[ginjag]

its only about, money, they intimidate, suppression, what nonsense. This is the only true opposition to the official PT party. Most of you would have never been in a Red village. Personally I go into one regular and the village has known dem supporters (albeit) not many and they are not suppressed or ostresized. Keep chanting your nonsense, theres a major wind of change blowing in

When you vote, they know who you voted for. It's illegal, but it happens. So many people in my wife's village are afraid to vote if they don't support PTP. I would call that intimadation and supression of freedom of speech.

Would be interesting to see what would happen in your red village if 3 yellow shirts went in carrying posters supporting something or another. Doubt they would get out in one piece.

Wasn't that Tul guy chased out of Chaing Mai earlier this year???? Real democracy.

Hope that major wind is in favor of true democracy.

This is for -NOT backtonormal

Agree with you lovetotravel, if you live in the area there tend to be no porky pies told.

All I can say is if you want the honest truth, reporters will not give you it--Ms Harvey was in my opinion biased (BBC) bkk-uprising, ask a red shirt and you want the truth--never-(brainwashed most) go to the areas--stay a while,--or ask someone unbiased who lives there as to what the situ is.

We as foreigners (in general rely on hearsay-SOME biased Nation reporting-and are smacked in the face everyday by the fugitive.

[tlansford]

The Nation did last June.

I missed that one or am going senile

I might have found it - here is a Nation piece from the end of June :

http://www.nationmul...t-30158761.html

It seems to focus more on how the village was being harassed by the military and the gov't rather than what it means to be a red-shirt village. But interesting...

A Spanish journalist also paid a visit to one: http://english.perio...towns%E2%80%9D/

Thanks - that was an interesting article.

[tlansford]

Well, thanks to a couple of people for some jokes - some were pretty funny. Thanks also to one poster who has some first hand experience with a red-shirt village.

I'm still looking for reporters/reports on red-shirt villages. What is a red-shirt village, maybe a list of the villages, etc.

http://blogs.straits...rs-in-thailand/

This article from the strait times made some points that posters here might find interesting. It is a pre-election article, and without quoting from the article, ...

- they are called "Red Villages for Democracy"

- it is a symbolic tactic, the writer states that these are not exclusion zones, nor is there a parallel administration established

- the villagers actively debate / discuss politics locally in coffee shops, etc. Partly this is because community radio stations were shut down and those remaining on the air have changed their broadcasting.

- they point out that the red-shirts are a loosely organized group, not monolithic, and that there is active debate and disagreement on strategy.

- the article recounts how red-shirt speakers at different events in the province harped on the democracy theme telling people to "vote fro whoever you want", and the author noticed a sign on the wall of a coffee shop that said "Selling your vote makes you a slave"

Cheers,

Tom

If your talking about Red shirt villages, where on earth do you have coffee shops to discuss democracy????

An article said red shirt speakers, were Quoted as saying ='vote for who you want" ??? what..what.

I live in a red shirt area and these said Villages are all around, believe articles if you want, read news clippings - I do, but if you lived amongst these organised closed shop areas, then you will feel and see what is going on. The biggest corruption in Thailand is LOCAL. it adds up far more than the big headlines we read- may I add that my area maybe a one off-----------------IT isn't believe me. I will be moving out of this area asap. it must be bad as I can adapt to most situes, but now wish to locate closer to good friends.

I do have some good government friends locally but they have to be careful what they talk about.

Thanks, ginjag.

My GF is from Isaan, and from my travels there, I can imagine what they mean in the above article by coffee shops. No problems there.

As for the comments of the reporter, well, those are his comments.This guy is pretty well known, and if my understanding is correct, he speaks Thai, so he would not be dependent on translators for his reporting.

Good luck with your move. It sounds like you'll be happier soon. (I personally hate moving. )

Cheers, Tom

[ginjag]

Well, thanks to a couple of people for some jokes - some were pretty funny. Thanks also to one poster who has some first hand experience with a red-shirt village.

I'm still looking for reporters/reports on red-shirt villages. What is a red-shirt village, maybe a list of the villages, etc.

http://blogs.straits...rs-in-thailand/

This article from the strait times made some points that posters here might find interesting. It is a pre-election article, and without quoting from the article, ...

- they are called "Red Villages for Democracy"

- it is a symbolic tactic, the writer states that these are not exclusion zones, nor is there a parallel administration established

- the villagers actively debate / discuss politics locally in coffee shops, etc. Partly this is because community radio stations were shut down and those remaining on the air have changed their broadcasting.

- they point out that the red-shirts are a loosely organized group, not monolithic, and that there is active debate and disagreement on strategy.

- the article recounts how red-shirt speakers at different events in the province harped on the democracy theme telling people to "vote fro whoever you want", and the author noticed a sign on the wall of a coffee shop that said "Selling your vote makes you a slave"

Cheers,

Tom

If your talking about Red shirt villages, where on earth do you have coffee shops to discuss democracy????

An article said red shirt speakers, were Quoted as saying ='vote for who you want" ??? what..what.

I live in a red shirt area and these said Villages are all around, believe articles if you want, read news clippings - I do, but if you lived amongst these organised closed shop areas, then you will feel and see what is going on. The biggest corruption in Thailand is LOCAL. it adds up far more than the big headlines we read- may I add that my area maybe a one off-----------------IT isn't believe me. I will be moving out of this area asap. it must be bad as I can adapt to most situes, but now wish to locate closer to good friends.

I do have some good government friends locally but they have to be careful what they talk about.

Thanks, ginjag.

My GF is from Isaan, and from my travels there, I can imagine what they mean in the above article by coffee shops. No problems there.

As for the comments of the reporter, well, those are his comments.This guy is pretty well known, and if my understanding is correct, he speaks Thai, so he would not be dependent on translators for his reporting.

Good luck with your move. It sounds like you'll be happier soon. (I personally hate moving. )

Cheers, Tom

Tom,

My comments may have come across hard but not intended. The reporters comments I wouldn't question and he may well have done a decent report, the problem being as always these are usually set - up here, given information village spokesperson wants to give, and naturally he wouldn't argue with that.

My main point is there is no need for these red villages as they have the monopoly here as it is, why would they want to establish something that is theirs,???? I personally don't think it's healthy. There is a fear element in this set up to me...with a more leaning to a dictatorial element.

People in Thailand do suffer in general in rural areas, some lazy-self inflicted-others for want of trying for a fairer life, but without these hard line establishments.

I have a condo to stay already. but I am Lincolnshire bred and do love the countryside. but if many expats spoke the truth it is getting somewhat uncomfortable in Issan with more to come, thanks for your posts.

[Buchholz]

Chalerm: Red-shirt villages weapon-free

BANGKOK, 6 September 2011 (NNT) – Deputy Prime Minister Police Captain Chalerm Yubumrung has defended the establishment of red-shirt villages that they are weapon-free.

Speaking before participating in the cabinet meeting on Tuesday, the deputy prime minister stated that the government would not let such villages become weapon dens.

He claimed the villages were rather equipped with intellectual weapons.

Asked if red-shirt villages will widen the rift in the society, the deputy prime minister answered that red shirts were just political symbol and will not cause division in the society as worried.

-- NNT 2011-09-06

[lovetotravel]

My wife's mother is in a meeting now where they are voting on whether to become a red shirt village. Most voted for PTP in the last election.

Her reason for voting for this? Money. They've been promised something like 1MM Baht for the village. As well as other incentives. She's on the phone right now all excited about getting some money.

[hammered]

My wife's mother is in a meeting now where they are voting on whether to become a red shirt village. Most voted for PTP in the last election.

Her reason for voting for this? Money. They've been promised something like 1MM Baht for the village. As well as other incentives. She's on the phone right now all excited about getting some money.

The village fund for every village in the country is a million baht

Be interesting to see though if the yellows offered ten million baht to every village in the Isaan and upper north, how many takers they would get. Funnily enough I dont think it would be a terribly successful scheme

[lovetotravel]

My wife's mother is in a meeting now where they are voting on whether to become a red shirt village. Most voted for PTP in the last election.

Her reason for voting for this? Money. They've been promised something like 1MM Baht for the village. As well as other incentives. She's on the phone right now all excited about getting some money.

The village fund for every village in the country is a million baht

Be interesting to see though if the yellows offered ten million baht to every village in the Isaan and upper north, how many takers they would get. Funnily enough I dont think it would be a terribly successful scheme

During the elections, Thaksin promised every village 1MM Baht if PTP got elected. I don't think that was in reference to the village fund????

Based on how many went to Bangkok for the protests because they got 500B, I think if the dems upped that number, they would probably be successful????

[Buchholz]

My wife's mother is in a meeting now where they are voting on whether to become a red shirt village. Most voted for PTP in the last election.

Her reason for voting for this? Money. They've been promised something like 1MM Baht for the village. As well as other incentives. She's on the phone right now all excited about getting some money.

The village fund for every village in the country is a million baht

Well, the PTP has attempted to deny it, anyway...

Suchart Denies Promising Bt1 Million For All Red-Shirt Villages

but, the denials seem to run a bit hollow in that thread...

Not sure who spread the rumor, but wifey saw this offer in some Thai website.

Perhaps, the denials would have a bit more credibility if they weren't being issued by Suchart, who, elsewhere, proudly proclaims the truth:

Suchart: All Pheu Thai policies will be implemented

http://pattayatoday.net/news/thailand-news/suchart-all-pheu-thai-policies-will-be-implemented/

yeah... right.

.

Edited September 7, 2011 by Buchholz

[Buchholz]

Thaksin supporters turn the villages red

The bumpy approach to Napo village in north-east Thailand speaks volumes about the political currents sweeping the area: among a flurry of national and royal flags along the highway are a cluster of red ones.

Proclaiming “Red Shirt Villages for Democracy”, the flags mark the turn-off into another land. In the dusty village square, a vast backdrop above a stage festooned with red streamers displays the face of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, with the slogan: “Red Shirts for Ubon Ratchathani”.

The square is packed with Thaksin’s red-clad supporters – many in T-shirts printed with the face of his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, the Thai prime minister and poster girl for the extensive Thaksin support base. Missing from this scene is Mr Thaksin himself. He has lived in self-imposed exile since being convicted in absentia in 2008 on corruption-related charges

Continues:

http://www.ft.com/in...l#axzz1myRJQKZ6

Financial Times

Edited February 21, 2012 by Buchholz

[scorecard]

Chalerm: Red-shirt villages weapon-free

BANGKOK, 6 September 2011 (NNT) – Deputy Prime Minister Police Captain Chalerm Yubumrung has defended the establishment of red-shirt villages that they are weapon-free.

Speaking before participating in the cabinet meeting on Tuesday, the deputy prime minister stated that the government would not let such villages become weapon dens.

He claimed the villages were rather equipped with intellectual weapons.

Asked if red-shirt villages will widen the rift in the society, the deputy prime minister answered that red shirts were just political symbol and will not cause division in the society as worried.

-- NNT 2011-09-06

Weapon free - not possible - more Chalerm rubbish, expects of course that the populace will accept his ridiculous, often dangerous claims.

Equipped with intellectual weapons - Anybody have any details of this. Or is this a library of doctored tapes and tapes of long drawn out hate speaches?