Thai Govt Concerned Political Protest At Water Summit Will Negatively Affect Country's Image

[webfact]

Government urges activists to not protest at Chiang Mai's Asia Pacific Water Summit
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, May 14 - Thailand today urged activists and NGOs not to protest at the 2nd Asia Pacific Water Summit now being held in Chiang Mai, saying the rallies could negatively affect the country's image.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra made her remarks as environmental activists had earlier announced that they will rally at the Chiang Mai's International Convention and Exhibition Centre Commemorating His Majesty’s 7th Cycle Birthday Anniversary, the venue of the regional summit.

Ms Yingluck said the ongoing summit focuses on discussing water resources and has nothing to do with the protesters' opposed projects.

Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan said this is a meeting continuing since the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration and that the government will not talk about its water management projects at this forum.

Mr Niwatthamrong said the summit will be attended by leaders of many countries and will discuss water problems at the global level, as well as Thailand's flooding in 2011 and its sustainable solutions.

The minister said many countries have faced similar flooding as Thailand. Their conclusions to be considered at the summit will join those of ASEAN countries to find regional solutions.

Mr Niwatthamrong also urged the activists to be good hosts and help retain the good reputation of the country as the meeting is both an academic meeting and a global summit.

He said the government is ready to provide another venue for them to express their demands. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-05-14

[MaxLee]

Thailand today urged activists and NGOs not to protest at the 2nd Asia Pacific Water Summit now being held in Chiang Mai, saying the rallies could negatively affect the country's image. Plodprasop and his goons have already affected the country's image negatively, but are too stubborn to admit it... and the whole world knows...

The environmental activists have all rights to demonstrate against this pack of corrupt stubborn out-of-date mafia criminals, who suck their taxpayers dry to enrich themselves beyond common senses. All they want is to push their agenda through... Meaning:

- sh*****t-dump-load on other provinces, and protect deeper sinking Bangkok,

[waza]

"Thailand today urged activists and NGOs not to protest at the 2nd Asia Pacific Water Summit now being held in Chiang Mai, saying the rallies could negatively affect the country's image."

Who is Thailand? Do they mean Yingluck? If so she wasn't too concerned about Thailands image at an international forum in Ulan Bator, Mongolia
where she chose to raise Thailand’s negative aspects, told lies and tried to white wash her brother.

[Thai at Heart]

Image.

Greater countries survive protests and actively recognise the right to protest.

Maybe if Thailand's credentials were bit better their image wouldn't be so easily tarnished by a protest.

[Mampara]

"Thailand today urged activists and NGOs not to protest at the 2nd Asia Pacific Water Summit now being held in Chiang Mai, saying the rallies could negatively affect the country's image."

Who is Thailand? Do they mean Yingluck? If so she wasn't too concerned about Thailands image at an international forum in Ulan Bator, Mongolia

where she chose to raise Thailand’s negative aspects, told lies and tried to white wash her brother.

My, my, we are getting rather hot under the hat, aren't we.

[rubl]

Political protest is part of a democracy. Democracy which took the Thai people 'almost a decade' to attain again, someone allegedly said in Mongolia.

BTW those protesters simply want to remind the PM of one of her four strategies, announced late January 2013. The one with "emphasises growth on the quality-of-life and environmentally-friendly basis". Till now the most successful implementation seems to be of one of the other strategies "development of state administrative system"

[kotsak]

Of course it was fine when the red shirts trashed the place during the ASEAN-China Summit back in 2009 There was no image issue at that time..

[ramrod711]

https://www.google.com/search?q=bangkok+burning&rlz=1T4SKPB_enTH360TH360&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=pduRUfXyIsqHrAeKqYDABg&ved=0CC8QsAQ

rallies could negatively affect the country's image. Sort of like this? perhaps more like the "rally" in Pattaya at the ASEAN summit, always good for a nations image to see world leaders scrambling into helicopters to escape an armed group of thugs

[LuckyLew]

Why is it ok for reds to protest an shut down the center of Bangkok

but it is not ok for people to protest a little water festival in CM?

I would think that central world burning down would be a lot worse

for Thailands image than anything that will happen in CM

[pedro01]

Didn't Yingluck recently give the green lights to certain protests?

[A Member]

Of course it was fine when the red shirts trashed the place during the ASEAN-China Summit back in 2009 There was no image issue at that time..

No problems with the reds surrounding the Constitutional Court and being ordered to " capture ' any judge they saw. The way this government, PTP and the reds operate accusing them of double standards sounds like a compliment because they left that milestone in their wake a long time ago.

[whybother]

Didn't Yingluck recently give the green lights to certain protests?

Only certain protests!!

[Neilly]

He said the government is ready to provide another venue for them to express their demands. (MCOT online news)

I hear Yala is one of the front runners

[RubbaJohnny]

Denying Rak Chiang Khong and others from peaceful demonstrations would mean loss of face in democratic places.

Of course spoiled foto ops on domestic TV mean loss of face to local gang

Perhaps an underwater summit as tried in maldives.Send them to the klongssewers with the rats.

The disasterous Laotian dam and water mismanagement throughout the nation is all part of the price of corruption.

[ballpoint]

Didn't Yingluck recently give the green lights to certain protests?

Only certain protests!!

She gave the green light to red protests, but is now giving the red light to green ones.

(Oh dear, I used the term red light in a post about Yingluck. I'd better get a lawyer).

[NongKhaiKid]

Image.

Greater countries survive protests and actively recognise the right to protest.

Maybe if Thailand's credentials were bit better their image wouldn't be so easily tarnished by a protest.

I wonder when the phrase " urged not to " will be replaced by an outright ban which will only attract even more attention ?

[WhizBang]

Of course it was fine when the red shirts trashed the place during the ASEAN-China Summit back in 2009 There was no image issue at that time..

Course not, those were just the kind, gentle red shirts having a democraticly peaceful protest. What kind of image problem could that cause?

[chainarong]

Image: You've got one, but it ain't real good kid.

[TackyToo]

I could come up with 100 examples that ruined the image of the LOS already. Ah, but maybe not in Mongolia...

[AleG]

Image.

Greater countries survive protests and actively recognise the right to protest.

Maybe if Thailand's credentials were bit better their image wouldn't be so easily tarnished by a protest.

I wonder when the phrase " urged not to " will be replaced by an outright ban which will only attract even more attention ?

Plodprasob has already threatened the "garbage" (his actual term for the protesters) to throw them in jail if they protest at the summit.

[Thai at Heart]

Image.

Greater countries survive protests and actively recognise the right to protest.

Maybe if Thailand's credentials were bit better their image wouldn't be so easily tarnished by a protest.

I wonder when the phrase " urged not to " will be replaced by an outright ban which will only attract even more attention ?

Plodprasob has already threatened the "garbage" (his actual term for the protesters) to throw them in jail if they protest at the summit.

If you notice the headlines in the nation, pooyais often do a lot of urging.

[Bluespunk]

Government urges activists to not protest at Chiang Mai's Asia Pacific Water Summit

Tough xxxx. Can't compare to the damage you and your moronic red stormtroopers did in 2010. Statement is breathtaking in both its stupidity and hypocrisy.

[BuddyPinkham]

They think this ONE protest will make the country look bad? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Not that counterfeit merchandise, murder and robbery of tourists, bribery, corruption and on and on and on and on.......... Hasn't given this country a bad name? GOOD GOD! All it is is that the PM wants to save face and just smile to make everyone think ALL IS WONDERFUL in the LAND OF SMILES!

[scorecard]

"Thailand today urged activists and NGOs not to protest at the 2nd Asia Pacific Water Summit now being held in Chiang Mai, saying the rallies could negatively affect the country's image."

Who is Thailand? Do they mean Yingluck? If so she wasn't too concerned about Thailands image at an international forum in Ulan Bator, Mongolia

where she chose to raise Thailand’s negative aspects, told lies and tried to white wash her brother.

My, my, we are getting rather hot under the hat, aren't we.

Not really, just very relevant points...

[Baerboxer]

It rather sad to think that those with enough intelligence to protest at the governments planned scams schemes will pay any attention to this tosh. And, it makes the PM look rather wet in saying it. Who is writing this for her? If its the cousin of a well known memeber of the oposition, then he must be a plant afterall.

[Halion]

Thailands' IMAGE" What one is that ? The one that Yingluck and the PTP have done so much to artificaly create or the the one that their

actions generate for all the world to see. Denial neither truly distorts nor negates the truth. However it can get you re-elected.

[bigbamboo]

Protests against governments are something that happen in democracies. The people can be a pain of course, thinking for themselves and not doing what they're told but most of us prefer a democracy to an autocracy.

[Soi Sauce]

What is the imternational image of a country controlled by a criminal thru his sister, and is known for prostitution, drugs, people trafficing, environemtal destruction, road deaths, and a dictatorial government?

There are other things, like the massive murder rate, child and wife abuse, but I think enuffs been said already.

A good PR firm may be a good idea.

[OzMick]

Sometimes it's really hard to decide if she has a great sense of humour, no functioning cerebral matter, or a terminal case of hypocrisy.

Or any combination of the above.

[PaullyW]

I suspect that for most of us who've travelled extensively, even in and around the region, people outside of Thailand if they know/care about Thailand at all, have already determined what Thailand's image is: cheap women, cheap food, decent vacation spot.

They need not worry about their international image.