Bangkok: Huge Turnout Expected At Red-Shirt Rally Today

[OzMick]

Thida Thavornseth stood on the stage -- framed by a banner proclaiming in Thai 'Our friends must not die in vain'

Come off it dearie, you got your election win, and the end justifies the means, doesn't it. But it's got nothing to do with Thaksin! We have to stop now to listen to his phone-in.

[Skywalker69]

"Your numbers are a testament to the fact that our movement still exists and is getting stronger and stronger," she said.

The estimate of 40,000 seems reasonable and more-or-less as we've seen at some of the other major commemorations the last 1-1/2 years. Meanwhile the dear lady seems to have forgotten that she said '100,000 could attend' or her (left hand) k. Jatuporn's 200,000. The movement may visibly be stronger when the 92 deaths have been investigated properly and resulted in charges laid upon some people.

BTW surely "Our friends must not die in vain" must be an incorrect translation of the Thai text on the banner behind her. I hope it said "Our friends must not have died in vain". Furthermore I dare to assume that the 'friends' include ALL 92 victims?

It must be something wit the Thais and the zeros.

[Skywalker69]

"Your numbers are a testament to the fact that our movement still exists and is getting stronger and stronger," she said.

The estimate of 40,000 seems reasonable and more-or-less as we've seen at some of the other major commemorations the last 1-1/2 years. Meanwhile the dear lady seems to have forgotten that she said '100,000 could attend' or her (left hand) k. Jatuporn's 200,000. The movement may visibly be stronger when the 92 deaths have been investigated properly and resulted in charges laid upon some people.

BTW surely "Our friends must not die in vain" must be an incorrect translation of the Thai text on the banner behind her. I hope it said "Our friends must not have died in vain". Furthermore I dare to assume that the 'friends' include ALL 92 victims?

Sorry, but I think it´s only includes "Red Shirts"

[TinoThailand]

Tino - are you in denial as to the evidence presented to your own eyes?

Or are you going to claim it was photoshopped? If so, please provide some evidence.

Is this the USA way now? Provide some evidence because I think in a groove?

Sir you need to calm down! I am calm... Oh tazed me to death already...

Don't repeat smart talks or they will end up not being smart anymore... Just be objective and THINK.

No it is not photoshopped, I see one today in the big mall in Chieng Mai with Army Force Written under it in a clothes/fasion store.

Does it mean the person who put it on is aware of the WWII and so on? No it will also not provide evidence your way.

I know dam well what I am talking about, I come from Rotterdam if you know the history of it I don't have to say much more.

Indeed I did think. And when I read your comment, "Specialy if you see what you want to see." I was aghast at the disdain you showed to the previous poster.

And what makes you think it is "the USA way"? Good lord, take a pill, chill out...

At least you admit the shirt itself is real. The fact that you are from Rotterdam does not give you an exclusive right to the understanding of the meaning of the symbol. Bit of a high horse you're on, careful you don't fall off.

I know, same to you and about a Thai in some shirt we maybe both dislike. No exclusive rights in any matter.

But when you use the word "denial" we have to take it more exclusive, i don't need to create any confusions how so ever.

If you just wanto say it is a wrong shirt... fine with me. If you wanto claim its history and asume some Thai know about it and even bring it to life I simply disagree.

In general: the: do you have any evidence to provide is getting a bit boring. I think it's even on the first page of this subject and in many more subjects over and over again so nothing personal. Just not the way to have a debat, more like bring it to its knees and not learn much about or from eachother.

I lived in the USA and just wonder if this is really the only way to speak there now?

[siampolee]

If one looks at the turnout it is indeed a minuscule percentage of the population of Thailand, hence all those disillusioned farang politically failed revolutionaries who failed in their lands of birth have to shout loudly here to both inflate their own personal ego's and to also try and enforce their personal idea of democracy on a population that in reality is not at all politically motivated or interested in the Red Shirt movement.

The Asian mindset is far removed from the western mindset in its values and how power is invested and used in the by those in authority in Asian countries.

This demonstration is a wonderful lesson in how to whip up support which has failed miserably in its results. Note that Jutuporn is conspicuous by his absence presumably he's packing his bags to do another quick runner if all else fails. Nothing like leading from the back as Jutuporn does or leading from a luxury home as Thaksin does.,. .

Edited May 19, 2012 by siampolee

[Skywalker69]

If one looks at the turnout it is indeed a minuscule percentage of the population of Thailand, hence all those disillusioned farang politically failed revolutionaries who failed in their lands of birth have to shout loudly here to both inflate their own personal ego's and to also try and enforce their personal idea of democracy on a population that in reality is not at all politically motivated or interested in the Red Shirt movement.

The Asian mindset is far removed from the western mindset in its values and how power is invested and used by those in authority in Asian countries.

This demonstration is a wonderful lesson in how to whip up support which has failed miserably in its results. Note that Jutuporn is conspicuous by his absence presumably he's packing his bags to do another quick runner if all else fails. Nothing like leading from the back as Jutuporn does or leading from a luxury home as Thaksin does.,. .

Love your comment!!

[phiphidon]

Judging from the above you arrived in Thailand in July 2005, correct? Now tell me who was PM in the period July 2005 up until the coup in September 2006. Thaksin Shiniwatra is the correct answer.

Wrong as usual!

Thaksin was a self appointed care taker Prime Minister at the time!

He was not Royally endorsed, and while he even admitted this and promised to step down, he hung onto it!

And then came September the 6th!

Get your facts right PhiPhiDon!

He likes to change facts and events, so he can apply as the first foreigner in Pheau Thai. He's doing good following after his mentors by constantly discrediting himself.

Tell you what gem old chum, you seem to know so much about me that you can answer for me you are now my designated me. Any questions to me will now be answered by gemini81.

[phiphidon]

Judging from the above you arrived in Thailand in July 2005, correct? Now tell me who was PM in the period July 2005 up until the coup in September 2006. Thaksin Shiniwatra is the correct answer.

Wrong as usual!

Thaksin was a self appointed care taker Prime Minister at the time!

He was not Royally endorsed, and while he even admitted this and promised to step down, he hung onto it!

And then came September the 6th!

Get your facts right PhiPhiDon!

so what was Sept the 6th?

Oh he wouldn't know why you asked him......................

[KireB]

Judging from the above you arrived in Thailand in July 2005, correct? Now tell me who was PM in the period July 2005 up until the coup in September 2006. Thaksin Shiniwatra is the correct answer.

Wrong as usual!

Thaksin was a self appointed care taker Prime Minister at the time!

He was not Royally endorsed, and while he even admitted this and promised to step down, he hung onto it!

And then came September the 6th!

Get your facts right PhiPhiDon!

so what was Sept the 6th?

I change it in the 19th to get my facts right! Good point silly me, got the date wrong of the coupe d'etat!

Doesn't change the opinion though!

Edited May 19, 2012 by KireB

[Centrum]

Just got back and I would agree with the number being around 40,000.

It's packed from Rajprasong to Pratunam but the crowd doesn't seem as dense as in the past. (That's 'dense' as in people per sq mtr, not IQ!)

One thing that shouldn't be overlooked is the large percentage of the crowd wearing Yingluck shirts or one or another Thaksin shirts.

It's still ALL ABOUT THAKSIN.

It rained for about 15 mins, just about when he who would be k*** was due to appear via satellite link.

Hopefully a black magician in the crowd can put 2 and 2 together on that count and inform the masses.

[gand]

"A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject." - Winston Churchill

[Centrum]

If one looks at the turnout it is indeed a minuscule percentage of the population of Thailand, hence all those disillusioned farang politically failed revolutionaries who failed in their lands of birth have to shout loudly here to both inflate their own personal ego's and to also try and enforce their personal idea of democracy on a population that in reality is not at all politically motivated or interested in the Red Shirt movement.

The Asian mindset is far removed from the western mindset in its values and how power is invested and used in the by those in authority in Asian countries.

This demonstration is a wonderful lesson in how to whip up support which has failed miserably in its results. Note that Jutuporn is conspicuous by his absence presumably he's packing his bags to do another quick runner if all else fails. Nothing like leading from the back as Jutuporn does or leading from a luxury home as Thaksin does.,. .

I do believe I saw Jutaporn on stage while I was there...

[hellodolly]

Thailand's 'Red Shirts' to rally in Bangkok

Bangkok, May 19, 2012 (AFP) - Tens of thousands of "Red Shirt" supporters were expected to bring central Bangkok to a standstill Saturday on the second anniversary of a deadly crackdown on street protests, city police said.

At least 1,200 officers will be deployed for the 14-hour rally in the retail heart of the city, where the 2010 protests in support of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra descended into the kingdom's worst violence in decades.

Police blocked traffic at the Ratchaprasong intersection, one of Bangkok's busiest junctions, as busloads of Red Shirts from across the country arrived in the city centre a few hours ahead of the rally.

"We expect tens of thousands of them to join the anniversary," Major General Worasak Nopsitthiporn, deputy commander of Bangkok Metropolitan Police Bureau, said.

"Traffic in front of Central World (a landmark shopping mall) is blocked after they set up the rally stage last night."

Red Shirt leaders expect between 100,000 and 200,000 people at the rally, which will begin with Buddhist prayers for those killed in the 2010 unrest and see a live video link address from Red Shirt hero Thaksin, who lives overseas to avoid arrest in Thailand.

More than 90 people, mostly civilians, died in the 2010 violence, which marked the culmination of a series of rival protests since a 2006 coup that toppled Thaksin.

The Red Shirts and rights groups have called on the new government, led by Thaksin's sister Yingluck, to prosecute soldiers and officials responsible for causing the deaths and injuries, many to unarmed demonstrators.

"We have to seek justice otherwise the use of force to crackdown on protesters may happen again," Red Shirt leader Thida Thavorseth said Friday.

Thailand has seen a string of violent protests since 2005, involving the arch royalist and nationalist Yellow Shirts, the mainly rural working-class Red Shirts and several smaller factions.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-05-19

Does the memorial include the soldiers the unarmed red shirts shot?

Just asking.

[hellodolly]

"Your numbers are a testament to the fact that our movement still exists and is getting stronger and stronger," she said.

The estimate of 40,000 seems reasonable and more-or-less as we've seen at some of the other major commemorations the last 1-1/2 years. Meanwhile the dear lady seems to have forgotten that she said '100,000 could attend' or her (left hand) k. Jatuporn's 200,000. The movement may visibly be stronger when the 92 deaths have been investigated properly and resulted in charges laid upon some people.

BTW surely "Our friends must not die in vain" must be an incorrect translation of the Thai text on the banner behind her. I hope it said "Our friends must not have died in vain". Furthermore I dare to assume that the 'friends' include ALL 92 victims?

Sorry, but I think it´s only includes "Red Shirts"

You mean she would lie.

[phiphidon]

The UDD is not the most violent political movement in Thailand.

On a national scale, which political movement is more violent?

The Royal Thai Army

Incorrect, neither the RTA (i.e. army) nor the RTP (i.e. police) is a political movement. Mind you, there's a rather interesting number of politicans who were/are in one of the two forces

You may wish to rethink your comment wrt the Army - yes they are supposed to be non political but when army reshuffles (internal) are made with politics in mind, army visits are made to specific areas pre election and the main man advises the populace which way to vote in elections it's not too far a stretch to say they are a political movement.

[hellodolly]

Judging from the above you arrived in Thailand in July 2005, correct? Now tell me who was PM in the period July 2005 up until the coup in September 2006. Thaksin Shiniwatra is the correct answer.

Wrong as usual!

Thaksin was a self appointed care taker Prime Minister at the time!

He was not Royally endorsed, and while he even admitted this and promised to step down, he hung onto it!

And then came September the 6th!

Get your facts right PhiPhiDon!

He likes to change facts and events, so he can apply as the first foreigner in Pheau Thai. He's doing good following after his mentors by constantly discrediting himself.

Tell you what gem old chum, you seem to know so much about me that you can answer for me you are now my designated me. Any questions to me will now be answered by gemini81.

In other words he is going to spout any thing that comes into his head and don't you dare ask for verification.

He was at the head of the class when Calgaryll was spouting off. He feels the burden is now on his shoulders.

[rubl]

Incorrect, neither the RTA (i.e. army) nor the RTP (i.e. police) is a political movement. Mind you, there's a rather interesting number of politicans who were/are in one of the two forces

You may wish to rethink your comment wrt the Army - yes they are supposed to be non political but when army reshuffles (internal) are made with politics in mind, army visits are made to specific areas pre election and the main man advises the populace which way to vote in elections it's not too far a stretch to say they are a political movement.

You forgot to mention that the main coupleader Gen. Sonthi, now an MP in parliament, is all for an amnesty. So how about similar feats of the RTP, like finding all those red-shirt bodies in Rayong and blaming the opposition?

Never mind, getting off topic. Let's get back to the really HUGE turnout which as you may remember was described a few days ago as 'will', 'would' and 'could'

[Skywalker69]

"Your numbers are a testament to the fact that our movement still exists and is getting stronger and stronger," she said.

The estimate of 40,000 seems reasonable and more-or-less as we've seen at some of the other major commemorations the last 1-1/2 years. Meanwhile the dear lady seems to have forgotten that she said '100,000 could attend' or her (left hand) k. Jatuporn's 200,000. The movement may visibly be stronger when the 92 deaths have been investigated properly and resulted in charges laid upon some people.

BTW surely "Our friends must not die in vain" must be an incorrect translation of the Thai text on the banner behind her. I hope it said "Our friends must not have died in vain". Furthermore I dare to assume that the 'friends' include ALL 92 victims?

Sorry, but I think it´s only includes "Red Shirts"

You mean she would lie.

Well what to expect, she is her "brothers" sister, must be something with the genes.

[surangw]

who gets the shirt concession supplying the correct red shirts?

[OzMick]

You may wish to rethink your comment wrt the Army - yes they are supposed to be non political but when army reshuffles (internal) are made with politics in mind, army visits are made to specific areas pre election and the main man advises the populace which way to vote in elections it's not too far a stretch to say they are a political movement.

From memory, he asked Thais to vote for "good people" which doesn't sound like a political statement. Not until you look at PTP's party list.

[phiphidon]

He likes to change facts and events, so he can apply as the first foreigner in Pheau Thai. He's doing good following after his mentors by constantly discrediting himself.

Tell you what gem old chum, you seem to know so much about me that you can answer for me you are now my designated me. Any questions to me will now be answered by gemini81.

In other words he is going to spout any thing that comes into his head and don't you dare ask for verification.

He was at the head of the class when Calgaryll was spouting off. He feels the burden is now on his shoulders.

Someone else who speaks for me. Would you care to share some of the burden with gemini81?

[pastitche]

The UDD is not the most violent political movement in Thailand.

On a national scale, which political movement is more violent?

.

On any scale the violence in the south is far more serious; are you suggesting that it is not part of the nation or do you have a different definition of national?

[nurofiend]

"Your numbers are a testament to the fact that our movement still exists and is getting stronger and stronger," she said.

The estimate of 40,000 seems reasonable and more-or-less as we've seen at some of the other major commemorations the last 1-1/2 years. Meanwhile the dear lady seems to have forgotten that she said '100,000 could attend' or her (left hand) k. Jatuporn's 200,000. The movement may visibly be stronger when the 92 deaths have been investigated properly and resulted in charges laid upon some people.

BTW surely "Our friends must not die in vain" must be an incorrect translation of the Thai text on the banner behind her. I hope it said "Our friends must not have died in vain". Furthermore I dare to assume that the 'friends' include ALL 92 victims?

at the end of the day, who cares about the numbers... if a couple of hundred turned up, then it would be something worth talking (and in ye're case laughing) about.

40,000 (the nations estimate) is still a hell of a lot of people and a great support no matter what way you look at it.

[Scott]

An inflammatory post has been deleted as well as one reporting malware and responses to the post.

[rubl]

begin removed ...

It is only a handful of posters who are mainly political commentators as they rarely if ever start a topic. I guess they don't have original thoughts or don't know anything about Thailand. You know who you are. All of their comments are about politics. They have never had a question about anything else in Thailand. They only post in the news forum.

Frankly I don't understand the nasty stuff. Especially when it has to do with a women.

Normal posters cannot start a new topic in the "Thailand News" forum.

As for nasty stuff especially when it has to do about women, a bit of double standards there. If nasty things can and may be said of men who dabble in politics, why not about women who get into the arena?

Edited May 19, 2012 by rubl

[dru2]

40,000 people. The vanguard of the counter-revolution! It's so.... so... so overwhelmingly impressive that I find myself completely underwhelmed.

What percentage is forty thousand of 65 million? I can't seem to work it out, but it must be massive, unstoppable, an indication of a sea change to come.

Edited May 19, 2012 by dru2

[gand]

"It's not that I'm not willing to fight, but when I fight, the nation loses," Thaksin said.

"I don't need to see bloodshed among Thais. Thai blood must not paint the land of Thailand."

amid speculation he may manipulate the country behind the scenes, or stage a comeback

It appears Thaksin went back on his words, no surprise there, and the forecast from his opponents came true.

[rubl]

"Your numbers are a testament to the fact that our movement still exists and is getting stronger and stronger," she said.

The estimate of 40,000 seems reasonable and more-or-less as we've seen at some of the other major commemorations the last 1-1/2 years. Meanwhile the dear lady seems to have forgotten that she said '100,000 could attend' or her (left hand) k. Jatuporn's 200,000. The movement may visibly be stronger when the 92 deaths have been investigated properly and resulted in charges laid upon some people.

BTW surely "Our friends must not die in vain" must be an incorrect translation of the Thai text on the banner behind her. I hope it said "Our friends must not have died in vain". Furthermore I dare to assume that the 'friends' include ALL 92 victims?

at the end of the day, who cares about the numbers... if a couple of hundred turned up, then it would be something worth talking (and in ye're case laughing) about.

40,000 (the nations estimate) is still a hell of a lot of people and a great support no matter what way you look at it.

If only those UDD leaders would refrain from giving ridiculous expectations before the actual event, the 40,000 might be more impressive. As it is the current numbers do not really seem to increase over the last 18 months.

Anyway, it was a wonderful outing, shopping, food, new Tshirts and probably paid-for touringcars to move the masses, compliment of UDD organisation which understands that people need help with the costs of living haven risen so much. BTW all need to go home quickly, school starts Monday, lots to do to help prepare the kids.

Edited May 19, 2012 by rubl

[jungledrums]

http://airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/573166L.html

Here is the Red Baron arriving to rally (haha) his troops...... The Thaksin Heinkle on the horizon..... You trac every flight on the web.... Red tail but missing swatika

[KireB]

The UDD is not the most violent political movement in Thailand.

On a national scale, which political movement is more violent?

.

On any scale the violence in the south is far more serious; are you suggesting that it is not part of the nation or do you have a different definition of national?

In agree with you here! Incidents like Tak Bai and the one in the mosque were indeed serious! Guess who was the PM during these atrocities?