1,000 reds join ex-TRT execs to celebrate end of political ban

KORNCHANOK RAKSASERI

THE NATION

Photo : Thanachai Pramarnpanich

BANGKOK: -- More than 50 former Thai Rak Thai executives were joined by over 1,000 red-shirt supporters yesterday at the Rama Gardens Hotel to celebrate today's end of the ban on 111 of the party's politicians.

Speakers included Chaturon Chaisang, Pongthep Thepkanjana, Bhokin Bhalakula and red-shirt leader Veera Musigapong. Fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra phoned in via video link.

They called for support of the Constitution rewrite and for people to take a stance against future coups.

"To get out of the crisis, we must change the charter and laws on political parties to prevent parties from being dissolved so easily," Pongthep said. "Secondly, the movement called Tulakarn Piwat [Judicial Revolution] must be stopped because it allowed the judicial branch to interfere in politics."

Pongthep told supporters to back democratic-minded people as the drafters of the new charter.

Bhokin said that judges and members of independent agencies must declare their assets and be examined by the people just as politicians are.

Chaturon said that if there's no reconciliation and two opposing sides are still fighting, "the most-democratic side must move on with all issues to maintain superiority".

Red-shirt leader Veera said he was happy "to be a person again" and get his voting rights back.

"I don't know what colour shirt the lovers of democracy are wearing, but they are in the majority. And they are ready to take charge against anyone who stages a coup," Veera said.

Via video link, Thaksin vowed that he will never forget the red-shirt supporters and will always be grateful for their backing.

"I might be unclear because |the signal is very bad because I |am outside and it's causing me |to lose concentration. In case there's any misunderstanding, I apologise to you now," he said. "I am a grateful person. I will never forget, not even the person who handed me a glass of water. Red-shirt brothers and sisters, I will never forget you."

"When I return, I will turn red-shirt power into being the power to build a good economy and society for Thailand," he said.

Following the event at the Rama Gardens, there was |more celebration by the red shirts at a party at the Miracle Grand Hotel.

-- The Nation 2012-05-31

Someone would be kind enough to explain to me how one can support Democracy and electoral fraud at the same time?

It just seems so odd to me that a pro Democracy movement would cheer for people that were sanctioned for collusion on subverting an election.

Someone would be kind enough to explain to me how one can support Democracy and electoral fraud at the same time?

It just seems so odd to me that a pro Democracy movement would cheer for people that were sanctioned for collusion on subverting an election.

Easy, their only sin, in the eyes of their supporters, was getting caught.

Someone would be kind enough to explain to me how one can support Democracy and electoral fraud at the same time?

It just seems so odd to me that a pro Democracy movement would cheer for people that were sanctioned for collusion on subverting an election.

Easy, their only sin, in the eyes of their supporters, was getting caught.

Is there a thai word for "remorse"?.....I suppose not.

If my math is correct, this just cost Thaksin another 500,000 baht. I'm fairly sure that red shirts don't show up anywhere without being paid.

These 1000 red shirts seemingly do not get tired of being used and abused

"I might be unclear because the signal is very bad because I am outside and it's causing me to lose concentration. In case there's any misunderstanding, I apologise to you now," he said. "I am a grateful person. I will never forget, not even the person who handed me a glass of water. Red-shirt brothers and sisters, I will never forget you."

"When I return, I will turn red-shirt power into being the power to build a good economy and society for Thailand," he said.

No comment, none whatsoever

Has he already scheduled his flight?

Oh, btw, Thailand Live Thursday 31st of May #27:

Meanwhile, it has been reported that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has asked the Pheu Thai Party registrar to bring the party's membership applications to him abroad.

The election commission requires all political party applicants to apply by themselves.

Only 1000 supporters? Running short of the folding stuff? Having a liquidity problem? None of the celebrants look like farmers to me.

I think that one of the electioneering promises has been misinterpreted by the rank and file. When it was stated that in 6 months time we'll all be rich the 'we' didn't refer to the poor and downtrodden.

When evil wins, everybody loses.

Someone would be kind enough to explain to me how one can support Democracy and electoral fraud at the same time?

It just seems so odd to me that a pro Democracy movement would cheer for people that were sanctioned for collusion on subverting an election.

Easy, their only sin, in the eyes of their supporters, was getting caught.

This is extremely prevalent in the culture