Red-Shirt Pavilion Burnt Down In Songkhla

[webfact]

Red-shirt pavilion burnt down in Songkhla

The Nation

The remains of a pavilion in a newly opened red-shirt village in tambon Bangkae in Songkhla

Political rivals in Songkhla known to oppose red villages in area

SONGKHLA: -- The village pavilion of a new red-shirt village in Songkhla province was burnt down early yesterday, hours after its opening by red-shirt leaders and supporters in the South.

On Monday evening red-shirt leader Thida Tavornset Tojirakarn and supporters held an opening ceremony for a red-shirt village near the now-burnt-down pavilion in tambon Bangkae, in Songkhla's Jana district.

The police speculated that the incident took place around 2am. There were no eyewitnesses and the arsonist is not yet known.

Currently, police suspect the arson attack was done by political rivals, who were not happy with constant attempts by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) to set up red-shirt villages in the South.

Thida said people believed the arson attack was an attempt to oppose the setting up of the red-shirt village, following a failed effort to organise a rally to oppose the opening ceremony on Monday.

She said police and locals saw Democrat MPs Thaworn Senneam and Pol Maj-General Surin Palare lead the rally.

The UDD had tried to set up several red-shirt villages in the South, long regarded as the Democrat Party's stronghold. The group has been to Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat and Phuket since the end of last year.

Red-shirt leaders say rallies were organised to promote democracy, oppose drugs and military coups, as well as to set up red-shirt villages in the provinces.

Last Saturday the group failed to stage a rally in Phuket, after red shirts were driven out by locals. So, the group went back to Songkhla, their first destination in the South, to open more red-shirt villages. There were now 10 such villages in the province.

Meanwhile, Songkhla Democrat MP Sirichok Sopha expressed concern about the setting up of red-shirt villages in the South, which he felt would only cause more conflicts in society.

The MP said the government used the villages for political purposes, which contradicted its policy of reconciliation.

He said the government should stop supporting the UDD. The group rallied for the government, using state funds and cooperative state systems under the pretext of fighting for democracy and opposing drugs, he said.

Sirichok also noted that state officials were involved in red-shirt activities, such as Pol Colonel Tawee Sodsong, director of the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC), while others were asking officials to stop supporting the red-shirts and concentrate on their work.

He demanded the government and the prime minister provide evidence about the funds used to set up red-shirt villages, and affirm their political stance and stop the division in society.

-- The Nation 2012-05-16

[haroldc]

What goes around, comes around...

[OzMick]

Well after reading a post last night that a "red village" had been burnt, I must say I was a little disappointed, first that it was only a "pavilion" and then by the picture. Does 3m x 3m constitute a "pavilion"?

I suppose it is symbolic, and it probably was a magnificent piece of architecture in the Isaan style (though a roof or walls would have added to it substantially) giving a whole new meaning to "priceless". Besides the lack of a roof, what distinguishes a red village pavilion from a bus shelter? Pictures of Thaksin?

[Mosha]

3m x 3m? It must be where they hold their mass gatherings down there.

[birdpooguava]

Are these villages against the constitution? Have these villagers committed crimes? If yes, prosecute. If not, shut up & leave them alone.

[waza]

He said the government should stop supporting the UDD. The group rallied for the government, using state funds and cooperative state systems under the pretext of fighting for democracy and opposing drugs, he said...........

......He demanded the government and the prime minister provide evidence about the funds used to set up red-shirt villages, and affirm their political stance and stop the division in society.

The PTP government came to power on a democratic ticket, promising socialist reforms and populist sugar hits is actively using public money to divide society into friends and foe.

Start digging your bunkers guys this wont end well.

[mca]

Well after reading a post last night that a "red village" had been burnt, I must say I was a little disappointed, first that it was only a "pavilion" and then by the picture. Does 3m x 3m constitute a "pavilion"?

Sounding like a bit of a red shirt terrorist sympathizer yourself there Mick mate.

BTW I think as opposed to "pavilion" it seems to be more of a sala type construction.

[OzMick]

Are these villages against the constitution? Have these villagers committed crimes? If yes, prosecute. If not, shut up & leave them alone.

Prosecute? You must be joking. The current trend is to pass the case to the DSI to investigate if it's someone the government likes, make up a lame excuse, then pass it to the AG with a recommendation not to proceed, where it is quietly forgotten. I hear judges are taking up knitting.

[Yunla]

Division leads to division leads to division.

[OzMick]

Well after reading a post last night that a "red village" had been burnt, I must say I was a little disappointed, first that it was only a "pavilion" and then by the picture. Does 3m x 3m constitute a "pavilion"?

Sounding like a bit of a red shirt terrorist sympathizer yourself there Mick mate.

BTW I think as opposed to "pavilion" it seems to be more of a sala type construction.

Disappointed might not have been the right word. Somehow I was expecting numerous smoking buildings and witness accounts of a gang of thugs splashing inflammables and intimidating the poor villagers. Instead I got the edifice in the picture, and a wild surmise of political rivals when an unstubbed cigarette is just as likely a cause.

Nobody even noticed it was burning! the Towering Inferno it ain't.

[LuckyLew]

3 x 3 .... sounds like an out house painted red

[bendejo]

From speaking to people down here, I get the impression that the machinations of the Shin family aren't appreciated in the south. The reds are considered employees.

I take this incident as a message to them to keep their mess out of the south.

Edited May 16, 2012 by bendejo

[Semper]

3m x 3m? It must be where they hold their mass gatherings down there.

[sparebox2]

Good on them (the RED).

Som Num Na.

[Buchholz]

Meanwhile, Songkhla Democrat MP Sirichok Sopha expressed concern about the setting up of red-shirt villages in the South, which he felt would only cause more conflicts in society.

The MP said the government used the villages for political purposes, which contradicted its policy of reconciliation.

He said the government should stop supporting the UDD. The group rallied for the government, using state funds and cooperative state systems under the pretext of fighting for democracy and opposing drugs, he said.

Sirichok also noted that state officials were involved in red-shirt activities, such as Pol Colonel Tawee Sodsong, director of the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC), while others were asking officials to stop supporting the red-shirts and concentrate on their work.

Sirichok also noted the involvement in the Red Villages by other government employees citing that Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn and Pheu Thai MP Weng were going to be speakers for a training course on the Red Villages next month as well as Police Colonel Tawee (mentioned above) also participating as a speaker during the conference.

The keynote speaker giving the address at the conclusion of the training course was going to be Deputy Agriculture Minister and Pheu Thai MP Natthawut.

.

Edited May 16, 2012 by Buchholz

[WhizBang]

Good on them (the RED).

Som Num Na.

Good on them (NOT the reds)

[geriatrickid]

Meanwhile, Songkhla Democrat MP Sirichok Sopha expressed concern about the setting up of red-shirt villages in the South, which he felt would only cause more conflicts in society.

The MP said the government used the villages for political purposes, which contradicted its policy of reconciliation.

He said the government should stop supporting the UDD. The group rallied for the government, using state funds and cooperative state systems under the pretext of fighting for democracy and opposing drugs, he said.

Sirichok also noted that state officials were involved in red-shirt activities, such as Pol Colonel Tawee Sodsong, director of the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC), while others were asking officials to stop supporting the red-shirts and concentrate on their work.

Sirichok also noted the involvement in the Red Villages by other government employees citing that Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn and Pheu Thai MP Weng were going to be speakers for a training course on the Red Villages next month as well as Police Colonel Tawee (mentioned above) also participating as a speaker during the conference.

The keynote speaker giving the address at the conclusion of the training course was going to be Deputy Agriculture Minister and Pheu Thai MP Natthawut.

And " police and locals saw Democrat MPs Thaworn Senneam and Pol Maj-General Surin Palare lead the rally." opposed to the redshirt organizing.

The big difference is that one group is not implicated in the arson, whilst the Democrat backed group allegedly is. (

I believe motorcycle gangs call this a turf war.

Edited May 16, 2012 by geriatrickid

[TheWalkingMan]

Looks like one of those salas where 4-5 people sit around relaxing and chatting. The word "pavilion" conjured up images of something a bit more grander.

[Buchholz]

Meanwhile, Songkhla Democrat MP Sirichok Sopha expressed concern about the setting up of red-shirt villages in the South, which he felt would only cause more conflicts in society.

The MP said the government used the villages for political purposes, which contradicted its policy of reconciliation.

He said the government should stop supporting the UDD. The group rallied for the government, using state funds and cooperative state systems under the pretext of fighting for democracy and opposing drugs, he said.

Sirichok also noted that state officials were involved in red-shirt activities, such as Pol Colonel Tawee Sodsong, director of the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC), while others were asking officials to stop supporting the red-shirts and concentrate on their work.

Sirichok also noted the involvement in the Red Villages by other government employees citing that Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn and Pheu Thai MP Weng were going to be speakers for a training course on the Red Villages next month as well as Police Colonel Tawee (mentioned above) also participating as a speaker during the conference.

The keynote speaker giving the address at the conclusion of the training course was going to be Deputy Agriculture Minister and Pheu Thai MP Natthawut.

And " police and locals saw Democrat MPs Thaworn Senneam and Pol Maj-General Surin Palare lead the rally." opposed to the redshirt organizing.

The big difference is that one group is not implicated in the arson, whilst the Democrat backed group allegedly is. (

I believe motorcycle gangs call this a turf war.

Only the feeble-est attempt to implicate their involvement.... unsurprisingly, it comes from:

Thida said,

" police and locals saw Democrat MPs Thaworn Senneam and Pol Maj-General Surin Palare lead the rally." [the day before]

If the Reds had anything more than that, they'd broadcast it non-stop on Red Radio.

.

Edited May 16, 2012 by Buchholz

[sbk]

It woudn't necessarily have to be any political party involved at all, as noted by bendejo, the Shinawatra family and the Red Shirts are less than popular in the South. Considering the fact that this is widespread knowledge, the motives of the red shirts in the South do seem questionable.

[sparebox2]

Meanwhile, Songkhla Democrat MP Sirichok Sopha expressed concern about the setting up of red-shirt villages in the South, which he felt would only cause more conflicts in society.

The MP said the government used the villages for political purposes, which contradicted its policy of reconciliation.

He said the government should stop supporting the UDD. The group rallied for the government, using state funds and cooperative state systems under the pretext of fighting for democracy and opposing drugs, he said.

Sirichok also noted that state officials were involved in red-shirt activities, such as Pol Colonel Tawee Sodsong, director of the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC), while others were asking officials to stop supporting the red-shirts and concentrate on their work.

Sirichok also noted the involvement in the Red Villages by other government employees citing that Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn and Pheu Thai MP Weng were going to be speakers for a training course on the Red Villages next month as well as Police Colonel Tawee (mentioned above) also participating as a speaker during the conference.

The keynote speaker giving the address at the conclusion of the training course was going to be Deputy Agriculture Minister and Pheu Thai MP Natthawut.

And " police and locals saw Democrat MPs Thaworn Senneam and Pol Maj-General Surin Palare lead the rally." opposed to the redshirt organizing.

The big difference is that one group is not implicated in the arson, whilst the Democrat backed group allegedly is. (

I believe motorcycle gangs call this a turf war.

Only the feeble-est attempt to implicate their involvement.... unsurprisingly, it comes from:

Thida said,

" police and locals saw Democrat MPs Thaworn Senneam and Pol Maj-General Surin Palare lead the rally."

If the Reds had anything more than that, they'd broadcast it non-stop on Red Radio.

.

So the possibility is that the arson could be led by Democrat MPs Thaworn Senneam or Pol Maj-General Surin Palare.

[Mosha]

Equally possible the Reds did it themselves for propaganda purposes.

[gemini81]

First good news in a while. Take a dose of one's own bitter medicine. People of the south had enough of Thaksinomics and all of his graft.

[Buchholz]

Sirichok also noted the involvement in the Red Villages by other government employees citing that Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn and Pheu Thai MP Weng were going to be speakers for a training course on the Red Villages next month as well as Police Colonel Tawee (mentioned above) also participating as a speaker during the conference.

The keynote speaker giving the address at the conclusion of the training course was going to be Deputy Agriculture Minister and Pheu Thai MP Natthawut.

And " police and locals saw Democrat MPs Thaworn Senneam and Pol Maj-General Surin Palare lead the rally." opposed to the redshirt organizing.

The big difference is that one group is not implicated in the arson, whilst the Democrat backed group allegedly is. (

I believe motorcycle gangs call this a turf war.

Only the feeble-est attempt to implicate their involvement.... unsurprisingly, it comes from:

Thida said,

" police and locals saw Democrat MPs Thaworn Senneam and Pol Maj-General Surin Palare lead the rally."

If the Reds had anything more than that, they'd broadcast it non-stop on Red Radio.

So the possibility is that the arson could be led by Democrat MPs Thaworn Senneam or Pol Maj-General Surin Palare.

Indeed, where was Arisaman at 2am yesterday?

.

[AleG]

So... are they going to sue for copyright infringement?

[Buchholz]

It woudn't necessarily have to be any political party involved at all, as noted by bendejo, the Shinawatra family and the Red Shirts are less than popular in the South. Considering the fact that this is widespread knowledge, the motives of the red shirts in the South do seem questionable.

The South is not the only place, they aren't welcomed.

In the heart of Issan...

KHON KAEN – In Non Reuang, an unassuming Northeastern village located just 15 kilometers north of Khon Kaen city, fallow rice fields line pothole-ridden roads made dusty with windswept topsoil. Here, most residents are looking to have those roads repaved. Others are interested in having the local elementary school’s bathrooms renovated. These are the daily concerns of a small provincial town in which everyone knows everyone else.

But on December 23, Non Reuang made headlines when a group of concerned citizens successfully torpedoed plans to establish the community as a Red Village, just one day before its proposed inauguration ceremony. A village-wide vote saw 160 votes cast against the Red Village’s establishment and, as a result of a Red Shirt boycott, none cast in support.

The Red Village movement, conceived in the run up to last year’s July 3 election, has seen hundreds of villages throughout the Northeast name themselves “Red Villages for Democracy” in an attempt to demonstrate organizational power and scale. But in places like Non Reuang, the movement has strained community relations and deepened political divides.

http://isaanrecord.com/2012/01/11/red-village-thwarted-a-community-divided/

[kimamey]

However much I dislike the red shirts or at least the more extreme ones burning their garden shed or whatever it's supposed to be isn't the answer nor is it right.

Ca someone explain to me what a red shirt village is exactly? How many or what proportion of the village have to be red supporters for it to be declared red? What if you aren't red? What is the legal basis for them? Honest answers only please. I can't tell how serious it is without knowing.

[OzMick]

No-one saw an arsonist, nobody even noticed it burning, and unless there is a smell of inflammables, the reason the arsonist is unknown may well be because he only exists in the tiny paranoid minds of the reds and the police.

OTOH just because you're paranoid doesn't mean their isn't somebody out to get you.

[DP25]

Here, most residents are looking to have those roads repaved. Others are interested in having the local elementary school’s bathrooms renovated. These are the daily concerns of a small provincial town in which everyone knows everyone else.

Uhhh...they shouldn't expect to have their road repaved or new bathrooms in their school if they don't vote to become a red shirt village. That will be withheld until they learn to vote the right way.

[kimamey]

3 x 3 .... sounds like an out house painted red

To be fair it larger than than my HP Pavilion laptop