Thai Police Fire Tear Gas At Political Protest

[DocN]

Is that razor wire or barbed wire?

A bit over board for a protest where nothing has happened, it is not like they have taken a city hostage and burnt it down

--snip--

We may have watched the same video...but we obviously did see different things!

First: I have seen demonstrations in my home country (Germany), where police force, barriers and barbed wire didn't look much different from that...and there was also no violence , or as you put "where nothing has happened". So...when the crowd gets out of hand...would that be a good time to bring out the barbed wire??

And no matter what: there is a barrier, put up by the police and protesters just think "hmmm...don't like that one bit!" and cut through it. And then they start something that looks a lot like "attacking the police" to me.

Well...peacefull demo (at this point in time and space)? My behind!

[krisb]

get over it guys .. it's not even your frickin country....

Let me ask you a question McMagus:

If you were in your home country and you met a Thai person who had been living in your country for twenty years, working there (legally), and married with a native of your country and with kids, and the Thai person, speaking in your home language, expressed to you an opinion about local politics, would you laugh in that person's face and tell them that it wasn't their frickin country?

Cant argue with that McMagus.

Its called multiculturalism.....is that how its spelled?

[ttelise]

If they don't like Yingluck, they need to wait until next election and not storm the streets.

Expect to hear a lot of this sort of advice in the next few days coming from the direction of those who in 2010 either participated in or fully supported not waiting until the next election but rather storming the streets. Utter hypocrisy.

The difference is that the current PM has a mandate to govern. In case you forgot, she won a decisive victory. The public was given a choice of parties, electing one of them in sufficient numbers determined the PM. Mr. Abhisit lost that election.

The problem here is you wish to pick and chose when it is ok to not wait for elections and storm the streets, and when it isn't ok. And the problem with that is everyone can have a different opinion on what constitutes reasonable grounds for not waiting and storming and what doesn't. You might think for example that Abhisit's lack of a mandate provided reasonable grounds, whilst others might think that Yingluck being instructed on how to run the country by someone not only banned from politics, but on the run from crime, also provides reasonable grounds. It's subjective.

With that being the case, you either must respect democratic process and abide by it at all times, or you don't respect it and abide by, and in doing so, accept that you lose the right to demand anyone else respect it or abide by it either.

The reds didn't respect or abide by democratic process in 2010, but now demand that others do. To repeat, complete and utter hypocrisy.

Both sides need to keep their butts out of the street if anything is to get better. If they over throw Yingluck, the red will just do same thing and on and on and on until it potentially escalates into a civil war. Sadly, this is about the most ridiculous circus I have ever seen in any country. Both sides act like out of control primates governed by mob mentality.

[jcw]

I'm about 5 mins from the protest as I live right near and it all seems pretty peaceful to me.

Could you please post if you see something happening? It is so difficult to get first hand news without propaganda.

Just be careful, I heard the poilice will take away your recording equipment.

Police say a TV cameraman was arrested for violating people's rights with filming of turmoil. source

[hellodolly]

One thing I am certain of today - not to believe any news reports from the Authorities

From the OP - Blocking their way to what ? the protest site ?

Is this what this disgraceful government is going to do, block protesters from reaching the site and inflame the situation, I thought this would have been peaceful today but now I think the tactic is for the police to stir the trouble - coming from Charlerm it sounds about right

It was never in the government plans to let this be peaceful. Can any one ever remember a political protest where the government set up barb wire fences to keep people out. I can remember one where the protestors set them up to hide behind and launch rockets at innocent civilians and keep them from going to work to make an honest baht.

That particular one was condoned by the present government in fact they even let some of the leaders in to there government and protected them from prosecution.

And then rewarded them with a 7.2 million baht payout to the red dead out of the public tax monies.

Dam I forgot about that.

I also forgot to mention that those wonderful people left the place looking like a pig pen and made not one move to clean it up. Let the tax payers and hundreds of volunteers do it for them.

[tonbridgebrit]

The authorities expect tens of thousands of people to attend the demonstration, the first major street protest against Yingluck's 16-month-old administration.

I wish 65 million people would demonstrate, Yingluck's just a clone of Thaksin and everybody knows it.

Time for this country to wake up. Bring back Abhisit, please.

Please Yingluck, step down.--

Abhisit can come back any time. All he has to do is win a mandate in an election, something he has yet to accomplish.

Yes, Geriatric Kid !! A lot of us foreigners love to harp on about democracy whilst blasting YingLuk. These people tend to forget that it was YingLuk's party that won the democratic election. Abhisit's party represents a minority group of people in Thailand, that's why they've never won an election in living memory, and indeed, they probably never will !!!

[jcw]

get over it guys .. it's not even your frickin country....

Let me ask you a question McMagus:

If you were in your home country and you met a Thai person who had been living in your country for twenty years, working there (legally), and married with a native of your country and with kids, and the Thai person, speaking in your home language, expressed to you an opinion about local politics, would you laugh in that person's face and tell them that it wasn't their frickin country?

You would be a citizen of that country 100%

Presuming the country is not paranoid with xenophobic racism.

Edited November 24, 2012 by jcw

[Nickymaster]

The authorities expect tens of thousands of people to attend the demonstration, the first major street protest against Yingluck's 16-month-old administration.

I wish 65 million people would demonstrate, Yingluck's just a clone of Thaksin and everybody knows it.

Time for this country to wake up. Bring back Abhisit, please.

Please Yingluck, step down.--

Abhisit can come back any time. All he has to do is win a mandate in an election, something he has yet to accomplish.

Yes, Geriatric Kid !! A lot of us foreigners love to harp on about democracy whilst blasting YingLuk. These people tend to forget that it was YingLuk's party that won the democratic election. Abhisit's party represents a minority group of people in Thailand, that's why they've never won an election in living memory, and indeed, they probably never will !!!

So let's continue robbing the country empty! Viva corruption!!

[Orac]

kaewmala ‏@Thai_Talk

BKK metro police spokesman confirms tear gas canisters thrown from protesters; different from police's silver canisters. /v @ake_springnews

Chaowarat (Poupae) ‏@chaowarat_KTTV

Used tear gas canisters at Pitak Siam site. #kttv pic.twitter.com/DTUk0Iw1

Chaowarat (Poupae) ‏@chaowarat_KTTV

Expired tear gas being used on Pitak Siam protesters.#kttv pic.twitter.com/SBTWoe9g

[whybother]

You're more likely to be able to properly manage a few entrances than many entrances. Limiting and managing entry points is not denying people the right to protest....it's simply a basic part of crowd control in volatile situations. Again, just look at how various high-profile international summits are managed .... designated protest zones, green zones, etc.

But if they've got enough police to block they entrance, surely they have enough to manage the entrance. Also, wouldn't it make more sense to have enough exits as well?

[DocN]

The authorities expect tens of thousands of people to attend the demonstration, the first major street protest against Yingluck's 16-month-old administration.

I wish 65 million people would demonstrate, Yingluck's just a clone of Thaksin and everybody knows it.

Time for this country to wake up. Bring back Abhisit, please.

Please Yingluck, step down.--

Abhisit can come back any time. All he has to do is win a mandate in an election, something he has yet to accomplish.

Yes, Geriatric Kid !! A lot of us foreigners love to harp on about democracy whilst blasting YingLuk. These people tend to forget that it was YingLuk's party that won the democratic election. Abhisit's party represents a minority group of people in Thailand, that's why they've never won an election in living memory, and indeed, they probably never will !!!

So let's continue robbing the country empty! Viva corruption!!

No!

Get the other party in...so they can rob the country empty!

Viva denial!

[DocN]

Is that razor wire or barbed wire?

A bit over board for a protest where nothing has happened, it is not like they have taken a city hostage and burnt it down

--snip--

We may have watched the same video...but we obviously did see different things!

First: I have seen demonstrations in my home country (Germany), where police force, barriers and barbed wire didn't look much different from that...and there was also no violence , or as you put "where nothing has happened".

You came from East Germany?

No, funny man...I am from Hamburg and that is West Germany!

Spooooooky, huh!? It happens everywhere!

Edited November 24, 2012 by Scott

[rijb]

get over it guys .. it's not even your frickin country....

Let me ask you a question McMagus:

If you were in your home country and you met a Thai person who had been living in your country for twenty years, working there (legally), and married with a native of your country and with kids, and the Thai person, speaking in your home language, expressed to you an opinion about local politics, would you laugh in that person's face and tell them that it wasn't their frickin country?

Cant argue with that McMagus.

Its called multiculturalism.....is that how its spelled?

No it's not! Multiculturalism is about diversity.

A person who expresses an opinion about local politics is just hot air - unless they can vote to back it up. Even if the vote was paid for...

[coma]

Yes, Geriatric Kid !! A lot of us foreigners love to harp on about democracy whilst blasting YingLuk. These people tend to forget that it was YingLuk's party that won the democratic election. Abhisit's party represents a minority group of people in Thailand, that's why they've never won an election in living memory, and indeed, they probably never will !!!

Still trying to rewrite Thai history Abhist and his supporters along with other people represent 53% of the population.

Maybe you have trouble but that is 6% more of the population than Yingluck represents.

The number of seats the PT has is far out of proportion to the amount of people they represent,

Who was it that was trying to say Abhist was elected because of the army. They conveniently over look there was two governments between them and the army and all three had been elected the same way. By legal means as defined in the laws of Thailand.

The sad part about these poor losers is they will probably successfully rewrite real history and deprive the future generations of the truth. In the process most of them will gain personal nothing except the smug sick satisfaction that they put some thing over on others.

[chrisinth]

get over it guys .. it's not even your <Snip!> country....

Let me ask you a question McMagus:

If you were in your home country and you met a Thai person who had been living in your country for twenty years, working there (legally), and married with a native of your country and with kids, and the Thai person, speaking in your home language, expressed to you an opinion about local politics, would you laugh in that person's face and tell them that it wasn't their <Snip!> country?

Unfortunately, your arguement will likely be flawed because in your example, said person would by that time have the right to vote, and would therefore be a little bit responsible for who was in power.

[DocN]

Yes, Geriatric Kid !! A lot of us foreigners love to harp on about democracy whilst blasting YingLuk. These people tend to forget that it was YingLuk's party that won the democratic election. Abhisit's party represents a minority group of people in Thailand, that's why they've never won an election in living memory, and indeed, they probably never will !!!

Still trying to rewrite Thai history Abhist and his supporters along with other people represent 53% of the population.

Maybe you have trouble but that is 6% more of the population than Yingluck represents.

The number of seats the PT has is far out of proportion to the amount of people they represent,

Who was it that was trying to say Abhist was elected because of the army. They conveniently over look there was two governments between them and the army and all three had been elected the same way. By legal means as defined in the laws of Thailand.

The sad part about these poor losers is they will probably successfully rewrite real history and deprive the future generations of the truth. In the process most of them will gain personal nothing except the smug sick satisfaction that they put some thing over on others.

A poor looser is someone who sees, how elections are held in Thailand (with all the vote buying from either side, with corruption, politicians who should not be there, threats of coups and fascist regimes...) and who know the system, that is equal for all sides and then start making up non- sensical equasions about how many people IN REALITY did not vote for the current PM.

By the system in Thai- elections, SHE WON, because she got the majority of necessary votes!

Get over it!

Edited November 24, 2012 by DocN

[Scott]

A number of off-topic posts have been deleted. This is a developing story. At this point in time, let's confine our comments to the current situation.

[15Peter20]

Posted Today, 12:09

RT @AndrewHurd: sadly, we all must RT @PKinbangkok: "Yingluck must die" - announced on the stage of the #PitakSiam rally.

Oh dear - Looks like the Pitak leaders are catching the same 'stage fever' the red shirt leaders caught two years ago. Cue years of tedious references to calling for the death of the PM when the main thrust of the movement is different to that.

Or should we now infer that everyone who didn't leave when they heard this now supports the killing of the elected Prime Minister? TV logic hard at work....

Edited November 24, 2012 by 15Peter20

[monkfish]

Wow well that puts things in perspective!

Also looks to me like tear gas was fired from both sides?

Edited November 24, 2012 by Scott

[Lormaak]

http://youtu.be/pRecMqJvFSk

This too. Gas canisters from both directions. Fired towards the police first (in the footage at least).

[rixalex]

get over it guys .. it's not even your <Snip!> country....

Let me ask you a question McMagus:

If you were in your home country and you met a Thai person who had been living in your country for twenty years, working there (legally), and married with a native of your country and with kids, and the Thai person, speaking in your home language, expressed to you an opinion about local politics, would you laugh in that person's face and tell them that it wasn't their <Snip!> country?

Unfortunately, your arguement will likely be flawed because in your example, said person would by that time have the right to vote, and would therefore be a little bit responsible for who was in power.

If the Thai person in my example was denied voting rights by your home country, would you tell them that their opinion counted for nothing and it wasn't their f******* country, like McMagus did?

Some expats in some countries are lucky enough to have more rights than other expats in other countries, but all expats who live, work and raise families, in my opinion, have a right to express theirs, no matter how the law views them.

[lannarebirth]

The problem here is you wish to pick and chose when it is ok to not wait for elections and storm the streets, and when it is ok. And the problem with that is everyone can have a different opinion on what constitutes reasonable grounds for not waiting and storming and what doesn't. You might think for example that Abhisit's lack of a mandate provided reasonable grounds, whilst others might think that Yingluck being instructed on how to run the country by someone not only banned from politics, but on the run from crime, also provides reasonable grounds. It's subjective.

With that being the case, you either must respect democratic process and abide by it at all times, or you don't respect it and abide by, and in doing so, accept that you lose the right to demand anyone else respect it or abide by it either.

The reds didn't respect or abide by democratic process in 2010, but now demand that others do. To repeat, complete and utter hypocrisy.

The premise of your argument is that the appointment of Abhisit as PM was the result of a fair election. As you may recall, the military was heavily inolved in providing the conditions that allowed Abhisit to cobble together some support from factions to ascend to his coveted PM position. Once his military protectors were forced to withdraw and the people of Thailand allowed to vote, Abhisit was rejected by the electorate.

The issue today is what is for all intents and purposes a politically motivated attempt to attack a democratically elected government.

In any case, put aside the reds vs. yellows vs. the polka dots politics for a minute. Why oh why, do these protests always sem to reach a head right before peak tourist season.

What does being a democratically elected govt. have to do with wishing their removal due to corruption, malfeasance and being a proxy of a banned fugitive. Winning an election is to a functional democracy what knocking a girl up is to good fatherhood. One can't assume the latter is predicated on the former.

Edited November 24, 2012 by Scott

[Thai at Heart]

Wow well that puts things in perspective!

Also looks to me like tear gas was fired from both sides?

Indeed. Protestors cut razor wire and teargas comes o out from both sides.

Amazingly restrained by the coppers. Other parts of the world, it would have been a free hit for the coppers.

Edited November 24, 2012 by Scott

[DocN]

Yes, Geriatric Kid !! A lot of us foreigners love to harp on about democracy whilst blasting YingLuk. These people tend to forget that it was YingLuk's party that won the democratic election. Abhisit's party represents a minority group of people in Thailand, that's why they've never won an election in living memory, and indeed, they probably never will !!!

Still trying to rewrite Thai history Abhist and his supporters along with other people represent 53% of the population.

Maybe you have trouble but that is 6% more of the population than Yingluck represents.

The number of seats the PT has is far out of proportion to the amount of people they represent,

Who was it that was trying to say Abhist was elected because of the army. They conveniently over look there was two governments between them and the army and all three had been elected the same way. By legal means as defined in the laws of Thailand.

The sad part about these poor losers is they will probably successfully rewrite real history and deprive the future generations of the truth. In the process most of them will gain personal nothing except the smug sick satisfaction that they put some thing over on others.

A poor looser is someone who sees, how elections are held in Thailand (with all the vote buying from either side, with corruption, politicians who should not be there, threats of coups and fascist regimes...) and who know the system, that is equal for all sides and then start making up non- sensical equasions about how many people IN REALITY did not vote for the current PM.

By the system in Thai- elections, SHE WON, because she got the majority of necessary votes!

Get over it!

SHE didn't win... The the party she belongs to won after getting the other coalition parties to join to get the required majority .

out of 66 million Thai's about 15 million voted Phua Thai and the other coalition and about 12 million voted for the Democrats. (the minority party, as i think you put it)

...so your conclusion is....???

That is the system, everybody was moving in.

She ran for PM as her party- candidate...and she got the votes she needed, so now she is PM.

She won!

[thaicbr]

http://youtu.be/pRecMqJvFSk

This too. Gas canisters from both directions. Fired towards the police first (in the footage at least).

Not sure . but what i see is gas canisters being thrown back at the police.. luckily this time the police are using police grade not military grade tear gas.. the canister stays together with police grade it explodes with military grade.

[chooka]

Is that razor wire or barbed wire?

A bit over board for a protest where nothing has happened, it is not like they have taken a city hostage and burnt it down

--snip--

Prevention is better than cure. Would you prefer to wait until the take over the city? The airport blockade hasn't been forgotten and if they had these measures in place then, the yellow shirts would not have disrupted tourism. Edited November 24, 2012 by Scott

[Baerboxer]

That's good , stop this jealous people's who want to put Thailand 25 year's back in time !!!

A politically enlightened newbie. Yes, good idea allow police to use any means to stop democratic lawful protest. That's really forward thinking. Well done!

[thaicbr]

Is that razor wire or barbed wire?

A bit over board for a protest where nothing has happened, it is not like they have taken a city hostage and burnt it down

--snip--

Prevention is better than cure. Would you prefer to wait until the take over the city? The airport blockade hasn't been forgotten and if they had these measures in place then, the yellow shirts would not have disrupted tourism.

bUT THE REDS DID AS WELL..BUT thats ok????

Edited November 24, 2012 by Scott

[ezflip]

Pure speculation as I am not there to see it with my own eyes, but --

From what I see in the tear gas videos is that the police fired first (note the smoke trail being straight being launched from a firing mechanism) then a protester picked it up to throw it back at them (note the spiral smoke trail as the canister spins through it's trajectory)

Unless there is a camera that actually shows a protester doing the deed, it is and remains pure speculation.

[ttelise]

Based on videos showing protestors as aggressors, firing tear gas into the police and the death threat to Yungluck, this should be treated as a national security issue warranting use of force. Bad situation and I think police showed great restraint. Their conduct makes the current government appear as the reasonable ones.

Edited November 24, 2012 by ttelise