Demonstrations And Rallies Leading Up To The Election

[sriracha john]

"sticks and stones may break my bones

but words will NEVER harm me".....

Well, nice that you are either extremely thick skinned, enlightened, or a saint.

But you can't expect that from ordinary humans.

Both verbal violence and physical violence intent to cause hurt.

Thank you, but I'm not so special.

I, and the law btw, expect the same response from anyone with a frontal lobe. The expectation is that we, as humans, are capable of controlling our actions to a higher degree than animals.

When faced with verbal taunting, the very normal reaction is not to respond with physical violence. It's never justified in the eyes of the law, nor me.

No one verbally threatened Thaksin's life. They taunted him.... and even he responded with the appropriate frontal lobe response of not resorting to physical violence.

I will concede that his son, not possessing quite the same amount of grey matter as his father, responded with a verbal taunt of his own, even making it worse by using foul language... but considering his upbringing, it's not surprising.

There's a reason why the law adjudicates a more severe punishment for battery (or attempted murder, which is often a charge used when non-frontal-lobe-possessing people decide to use their vehicles as battering rams in the vicinity of people and has resulted in occasions where police shot the driver dead, particularly when those people near the front of the offending vehicle were police) than there is for verbal abuse or even defamation. One normally involves prison time while the other normally involves a monetary fine. The reason for this difference is that they aren't the same.

[britmaveric]

There's an interesting article about the economic consequences of the current political turmoil on the Asia Times website. The last three paragraphs talk about a likely depreciation of the baht:

These realities will also make it difficult for Thailand's private sector to roll over its mounting short-term external liabilities, which amounted to $17 billion, or 33% of total external debt at the end of 2005. With foreign inflows increasingly scarce in 2006, Thailand will be forced to draw down its foreign exchange reserves by as much as $15 billion to finance net outflows of foreign portfolio investment and its larger current account deficit. This implies that a significant depreciation of the baht is probable in 2006.

Baht depreciation could be intensified by domestic capital flight if concerns arise about possible capital controls. In May 1997, the Bank of Thailand implemented capital controls to contain building devaluation pressure on the baht. These measures severely limited the ability of Thais to shelter assets offshore in foreign currencies.

In July 1997, the baht was devalued by 20% and by the end of that fateful year the depreciation of the baht against the US dollar exceeded 80%. As Thailand's political and social crisis deepens in the months ahead, and with it confidence in the economy, a new financial and balance of payments crisis cannot be ruled out.

Interesting - guess that make quite a few expats happy!

[asd]

The motorcycle drivers joined the farmers at Chatuchak Park.

I am not understand why this girl had to use this megaphone.

Don't you think that the motorcycle drivers were hired by this girl ?

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Hundreds of motorcyclists rally in front of Manger Group head office

Hundreds of motorcyclists staged a noisy protest at the head office of Manager Group of Sondhi Limthongkul now.

A live coverage from ASTV showed the motorcyclists arriving and staging a blockade on the Tha Pha Arthit Raod for five minutes at 5 pm and dispersed soon.

They kept shouting "Sondhi get out" during the protest. Manager Online said some motorcyclists also threw things into the compound of Manager Group and some climbed into the compound.

But Manager Group blared a song in satire of Thaksin to fight back at the shouts of the motorcyclists.

Some residents in the neighbourhood also came out to shout "Thaksin get out".

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/

---------------------------------------------------------

We are motorcyclists.

Gangs of New York >>> Gangs of Bangkok

"Sondhi get out" ( Look at left side of the pic >>> Election poster of TRT candidate NO. 2 )

"Thaksi.. Oops, Sondhi get out"

STOP !!!

Let's all calm down !!!

Learn Muay Thai from one of the best kickmotorcyclists of all time.

You don't have to be a martial arts specialist.

Teep Drong ( Straight forward foot push )

Ouch !!!

???

---------------------------------------------------------

Edited March 31, 2006 by asd

[Plus]

Thaksin's supporters won't march on Bangkok to return Thaksin to power. I guess only if he is dragged out of his office by force and detained they might get mobilised. If he peacefully resigns and says a few farewell words, they might grumble to themselves a little, but I doubt they'll resort to any violence. They have no cause to fight for apart from 30 baht scheme and debt reductions. If he peacefully resigns there will be no sense of injustice, too - it's his decision. If for his farewell he tries to call on his supporters to storm the government house of whatever, thus inciting civil war, he'll be shot in the head before he finishes his sentence. He won't be allowed to bring an army of thugs and have another round of hanging and torching people like in 1976.

Government's crackdown on PAD is also extremely unlikely. Where did you get the reports of army pulling around Bangkok? They are not united on his issue, but they won't turn on people unless there's an internal coup and the current army chief is disposed of. In fact they might step in and pull a coup on him - he's extremely tiresome in his stubborness and created lots of enemies. But so far the army wants to stay out of politics.

Besides, any violence from the army and he'll have to call elections again - to check if people still love him.

He can't do Suchinda, he can't do Thanom, he can't stay and watch PAD rallying outside his office forever either - he is basically f*cked.

50% is his self imposed number, it's not anyone's wishful thinking, though it would give him an easy exit and would be very welcome.

[britmaveric]

PM has time on his side.

[Bryan in Isaan]

link: http://www.thairath.co.th/thairath1/2548/b...ws.php?id=25867

(if you can read Thai)

And now, according to a couple of Thai language newspapers and television news, Sondhi has gone to China. This seems odd to me. Is this related to the interview in the Komchadluek.net newspaper in which he made the rash comment about the King? Or, is he just going out for some R&R? Maybe there is some restructuring going on within the PAD.

I don't have any idea. Anyone have any other info?

I hope he at least voted before he left. Maybe he's sending in an absentee ballot for this election.

Edited March 31, 2006 by Bryan in Isaan

[Plus]

The longer this thing lasts, the worse it becomes. Celebrations are in June - he can't postpone that either.

[sriracha john]

Hundreds of motorcyclists rally in front of Manger Group head office

Hundreds of motorcyclists staged a noisy protest at the head office of Manager Group of Sondhi Limthongkul now.

A live coverage from ASTV showed the motorcyclists arriving and staging a blockade on the Tha Pha Arthit Raod for five minutes at 5 pm and dispersed soon.

They kept shouting "Sondhi get out" during the protest. Manager Online said some motorcyclists also threw things into the compound of Manager Group and some climbed into the compound.

But Manager Group blared a song in satire of Thaksin to fight back at the shouts of the motorcyclists.

Some residents in the neighbourhood also came out to shout "Thaksin get out".

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/

---------------------------------------------------------

We are motorcyclists.

Gangs of New York >>> Gangs of Bangkok

"Sondhi get out" ( Look at left side of the pic >>> Election poster of TRT candidate NO. 2 )

"Thaksi.. Oops, Sondhi get out"

STOP !!!

Let's all calm down !!!

Learn Muay Thai from one of the best kickmotorcyclists of all time.

You don't have to be a martial arts specialist.

Teep Drong ( Straight forward foot push )

Ouch !!!

???

Terrific job ASD!

Great photos, perfect comments, and just the right smiley's.....

Excellent!

Keep up the fabulous work...

[Plus]

Acc. to the Nation there are rumours he fled the country to escape lese majeste charges. Fellow PAD leaders deny them and he is scheduled to return tomorrow evening.

http://nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/r...newsid=30000660

He wasn't interiviewed for Kon Chad Luek - they inaccurately reported his rally speech.

[Bryan in Isaan]

Acc. to the Nation there are rumours he fled the country to escape lese majeste charges. Fellow PAD leaders deny them and he is scheduled to return tomorrow evening.

http://nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/r...newsid=30000660

He wasn't interiviewed for Kon Chad Luek - they inaccurately reported his rally speech.

Still seems strange to me, making the quick China trip, but that's his business. Are you saying Sondhi didn't make the comments, but Kon Chad Luek erroneously reported that he did? One of the leaders of the newspaper group resigned, supposedly taking responsibility for some error. I searched in vain for firsthand accounts of Sondhi's comments in question. It was at a rally speech, not an interview? It has been very challenging for me to get source information, not being very good at reading Thai.

[Hermano Lobo]

A Democracy driven by illiterate farmers and motorcycle drivers supporting a crook who does insider deals ! Baa !

Edited March 31, 2006 by Hermano Lobo

[sriracha john]

deleted

Edited March 31, 2006 by sriracha john

[britmaveric]

A Democracy driven by illiterate farmers and motorcycle drivers supporting a crook who does insider deals ! Baa !

Majority rules...

[Old Man River]

Acc. to the Nation there are rumours he fled the country to escape lese majeste charges. Fellow PAD leaders deny them and he is scheduled to return tomorrow evening.

http://nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/r...newsid=30000660

He wasn't interiviewed for Kon Chad Luek - they inaccurately reported his rally speech.

Still seems strange to me, making the quick China trip, but that's his business. Are you saying Sondhi didn't make the comments, but Kon Chad Luek erroneously reported that he did? One of the leaders of the newspaper group resigned, supposedly taking responsibility for some error. I searched in vain for firsthand accounts of Sondhi's comments in question. It was at a rally speech, not an interview? It has been very challenging for me to get source information, not being very good at reading Thai.

I have the same problem reading Thai. You can try www.2bangkok.com which also gives info on current events.

[sriracha john]

BANGKOK, March 31 (TNA)

Before departure, he told journalists that he wanted to have a rest and would return to Bangkok Saturday evening via a Bangkok Airway flight.

[Plus]

Sorry, Brian, it was an interview. That's why the protesters demanded the journalist to fully disclose what Sondhi said.

Apparently the newspaper didn't fully quote Sondhi, and in an abridged form it looked like an offence.

If I remember correctly, according to Bangkok Post, Sondhi was talking about taking responsibility for Egat laws - something like if Thaksin does not feel responsible, than who is? The King [who signs the laws]?

It's very easy to "misreport". If you have copies of the latest Posts, check exactly how they worded it.

Dangerous subject here.

[sriracha john]

Minister regrets Democrat rally disrupted by protestors

BANGKOK, March 31 (TNA) - Caretaker Prime Minister's Office Minister Suranand Vejjajiva expressed regret over Opposition Democrat party's rally in the prime minister hometown of Chiang Mai being disrupted by supporters of caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra Thursday night.

Democrat party executive board members meanwhile demanded that legal action be taken against the invading protesters and those behind the incident.

The Democrat party rally at Chiang Mai University was forced to end abruptly when hundreds of protesters stormed the venue and demanded that party executive members--including its leader Abhisit Vejjajiva--leave the province, Mr. Thaksin's hometown.

"I regret such an incident happened. Every party should have an opportunity and freedom to speak or express their opinion," said Mr. Suranand, who is also an executive of the ruling Thai Rak Thai party.

Democrat deputy leader Chaiyawudhi Bannawat said the protesters' intrusion was well-organised and that local authorities were negligent, blaming Chiang Mai police for putting little effort to prevent the protesters from making their way into the rally venue.

"[The] incident would not have happened if the police had performed their duty completely and effectively.

He called on the authorities to identify those masterminding the incident and bring them to justice

"All TV news channels were present and the incident makers could be seen [and identified] on TV, " Mr. Chaiyawudhi said. "The authorities can take action against them all if only they want to."

Mr. Suranand said that because such an incident might happen to the Thai Rak Thai party at a major election rally in Samut Prakan province Friday night, the party decided to cancel it.

[sriracha john]

Sondhi challenges police from China

By Jutarat Tongpiam 31 March 2006 23:02

Media firebrand and anti-Thaksin crusader Sondhi Limthongkul last night challenged the National Police to speed up investigations into charges of lese majeste against him, voicing confidence that he was not guilty as charged.

Sondhi, a key leader of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which has been spearheading the protracted campaign to oust caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was speaking from the Chinese resort town of Guilin, where he was spending a one-day vacation to ponder his next move.

“I have not fled from Thailand as some people are trying to suggest,” Sondhi said. “I was tired. I needed a break. I decided to come here [Guilin] because it is quiet and beautiful, so I can reflect and plan the next strategy.”

Sondhi left Bangkok unexpectedly yesterday afternoon after a press conference at his Baan Phra Arthit headquarters to defend his position on the latest controversy over his comments published in the Thai language daily Kom Chad Luek, which prompted the lese majeste accusation.

He is scheduled to return to Bangkok Saturday night.

At the conference, Sondhi said that some people are trying to distort and exaggerate his original comments to serve their political purpose.

They edited his comments and generated its edited version via the internet, he claimed.

“The efforts to distort information following Kom Chad Luek’s report [dealing with his comments on the Supreme Administrative Court’s verdict nullifying a government-proposed Royal decree on EGAT’s stockmarket listing] are aimed at making the public misunderstand me.”

“Such efforts initiated by the government have led some peoples’ groups to lodge complaints with the police, accusing me of lese majeste,” he said.

Sondhi said motorcycle taxi drivers, military officers and cub scouts have lodged complaints against him. He expressed confidence that people will understand and support him when they receive the full facts.

The Manager Media Group head alleged that he has been treated unfairly by the police.

“Unfortunately, the police are willing to be the government’s tool. They are very active regarding their reaction to complaints against me while they ignore PAD’s complaints against Thaksin, for example,” he complained.

Sondhi said that ill-advised efforts to distort information only provokes conflict in society and may result in political turmoil similar to October 6, 1976.

“If that happens, Thaksin must take full responsibility of the consequences,” he said.

Sondhi warned that the political crisis is far worse than people expect. “The current crisis is beyond being remedied simply by casting ballots under Thaksin’s regime,” he asserted.

Sondhi indicated that although the news report in Kom Chad Luek on March 24 was based on his comments, the published details are neither correct nor complete.

Providing a hard copy and a VCD of his original comments to the press, he pointed out that the details of his comments were compressed into a few lines and some of his words were misinterpreted.

Sondhi’s lawyer, Suwat Apaipakdi, told the press that every legal action against Sondhi will be legally retaliated to. “We will not stay still even though the police may not provide us any protection. We will immediately go to court since it has become our last resort,” he said.

They will file a complaint citing negligence of duty by the police, Suwat added.

Kom Chad Luek made its second announcement Thursday, confirming that the paper’s report on March 24 was correct and based upon Sondhi Limthongkul’s comments. It also extended its cessation of publication from three to five days.

The announcement came after thousands of members of the Caravan of the Poor and taxi-drivers surrounded its office on Bang na -Trat Road the same day, blocking the entrance with their vehicles for several hours.

Prior to the demonstration, Kom Chad Luek had assumed sole responsibility for the report.

The management of Nation Multimedia Group, publishers of Kom Chad Luek, also admitted that it had been negligent in not publishing Sondhi’s comments in full and pledged to seek a Royal pardon through the Office of His Majesty’s Principal Private Secretary.

However, Sondhi said yesterday that he still sympathizes with Kom Chad Luek. “I do not blame Kom Chad Luek for its actions, since it acted under pressure from brute force.”

Meanwhile, Maj-Gen Surasith Thavorn, advisor to the office of the Supreme Commander, led eight other top-ranked military officers in lodging a complaint against Sondhi for lese majeste at the National Police Headquarters.

In Phrae province in the North, a group of about 100 village chiefs also filed their complaints with the police, alleging Sondhi of lese majeste. They also gave the police some copies of Kom Chad Luek as evidence.

The police said that more evidence was always welcome.

- Thai Day

[sriracha john]

News Editor Attacked by Pro-Thaksin Mob

By Sai Silp

March 31, 2006

The Irrawaddy News

A local news editor was beaten by one of a group of pro-Thaksin protestors who converged on a Democrat Party opposition rally at Chiang Mai University on Thursday.

Prachuab Wangjai, a news editor for Nation Channel Chiang Mai, run by Nation Multimedia group, was punched in the face by a man while leaving the event, which was disrupted when hundreds of counter-protestors in support of embattled Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra rushed the stage.

A witness to the attack told The Irrawaddy on Friday that the incident occurred after the Democrat Party leader, Abhisit Vejjajiva, left the stage. Members of the Nation Channel news team were walking to their cars when the crowd of Thaksin supporters recognized Prachuab, and one in the group punched him in the face.

Prachuab said that the incident showed how dangerous the political situation in Thailand has become.“This is my worst experience since I began as a reporter 10 years ago,” said Prachuab. “But it will not stop me from continuing my media duty.”

Prachuab filed a report with the police, but no charges have yet been made. Pol Sub-Lt Akradech Inthongchai, the officer handling the case, said that he received the report from the victim on Thursday night. The assailant has yet to be identified.

According to Prachuab, the Nation Channel Chiang Mai intends to file a complaint about the infringement of journalists’ rights and a lack of security, while also pursuing criminal charges against his attacker.

[ColPyat]

Government's crackdown on PAD is also extremely unlikely. Where did you get the reports of army pulling around Bangkok?

From a very close relative who is sitting in his almost empty barracks upcountry, and only waits that his unit is called to Bangkok as well.

[sonnyJ]

What is The Irrawaddy News?

Where are they located>?

I thought that Irrawaddy is the river flowing through most of Burma. So what's with this name?

[lung]

What is The Irrawaddy News?

Where are they located>?

I thought that Irrawaddy is the river flowing through most of Burma. So what's with this name?

http://www.irrawaddy.org/

.........

onother god source is http://www.manager.co.th/IHT/ViewBrowse.as...owseNewsID=7300

sondhi - page in english

[sriracha john]

Thai elections: Democracy delayed

BANGKOK - As Thailand gears up for Sunday's general election, the results are a foregone conclusion. The more pressing question is, what happens next?

Running unopposed in 271 out of 400 constituencies, caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Thai Rak Thai party is guaranteed to win. The main opposition Democrat Party is boycotting the elections.

The election will be held against the backdrop of a growing and increasingly assertive people-power movement, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD). Last week PAD staged its largest protests yet in Bangkok's main shopping and business districts. The movement's leaders have criticized the election's legitimacy and have vowed to resume their protests on April 7.

Thailand's wobbly democracy faces its biggest test since the military seized power from an elected government in 1991, and later in 1992 opened fire on protesters demanding a return to democracy. Thaksin dissolved parliament and called the snap poll in late February in a bid to renew his mandate and firm up his sagging political legitimacy. His government has been rocked by the PAD's allegations, ranging from disloyalty to the throne to rampant corruption to selling national security-sensitive assets to Singapore.

Those accusations have resonated deeply with Bangkok's politically powerful upper and middle classes, which when mobilized onto the streets, have historically driven different scandal-ridden governments from office.

Thaksin, whose popularity remains strong in the provinces outside Bangkok, has insisted that Sunday's election results should put a stop to the growing anti-government protests. His campaign managers aim to win more than the 19 million votes they secured last year, which resulted in an overwhelming 375 seats for Thai Rak Thai in the 500-seat parliament. Thaksin has promised to stand down if his party receives less than half of all ballots cast.

But it is just as likely that contentious election results will add more fuel to the protesters' fire. Opposition allegations that Thai Rak Thai party members manipulated the Election Commission's database to allow small, unknown parties to compete in the election have already raised doubts about the poll's integrity.

More significantly, the elections are almost guaranteed to result in an unprecedented sort of constitutional crisis, which depending on how events unfold, could conceivably lend itself to a resolution through royal intervention.

Many Thai Rak Thai candidates who are running unopposed in constituencies loyal to the Democrat Party will not garner the 20% of eligible votes legally necessary to assume their seat in parliament, political analysts predict. And because one senior Thai Rak Thai candidate dramatically resigned and ordained as a Buddhist monk after the election was called, the party will only have 99 of the necessary 100 party list candidates. In both instances the election would be deemed incomplete by the Election Commission and parliament could not legally convene to select a prime minister.

Thaksin's lawyers have already prepared a sort of legal fudge for such an eventuality. Bhokin Polakul, former parliament president and legal advisor to the prime minister, has argued that parliament could be informally opened but not formally convened for as long as necessary until Thai Rak Thai candidates are able to achieve the 20% threshold for all 400 constituencies through a series of ongoing runoffs. that's something new I've not heard before. An "informally opened but nor formally convened" House... not to be confused with an "illegally opened but not formally legal" House... hmmm...

Brushing off his critics, Thaksin has indicated his willingness to steer a one-party government, vowing that he would use absolute control of parliament to amend hundreds of laws he claims undermine the interests of the country's rural poor. On the campaign trail, he has promised to expand his government's populist 30 baht health care scheme, to provide laptop computers to all children entering the public school system, and to extend his "1 million cows" policy into more rural areas. (The current plan calls for cattle to be distributed to a million households over three years.)

is that same goal like his million Elite Cards to be sold?

Critics say a one-party government would also give Thaksin unprecedented leverage to push through other measures, dressed up as economic reforms, that would effectively benefit his colleagues' and family's big business interests. Many state enterprises and state-controlled broadcast and telecommunications frequencies are scheduled for privatization.

Thaksin's tendency to reward loyalty has piqued a wide cross-section of traditional Thai business elites, who have been marginalized by many of Thaksin's economic and financial policies. His government has taken particularly hard aim at the business families that control the few remaining commercial banks. The same thing has happened inside the historically powerful Thai bureaucracy, where Thaksin has sidelined or sacked many seasoned technocrats to clear the way for his political allies.

In many ways, then, Thailand's political conflict is actually a reflection of the ongoing power struggle between Bangkok old money elites vying to protect their interests and reassert their influence against the new money elites, represented by Thaksin's business-minded political clan, that for the past five years have aggressively aimed to undermine them. A new democratic mandate shored up by rural voters will do little to defuse the urban-oriented elite-on-elite divisions Thaksin's rule has opened and accentuated, political analysts say.

Mobs, bombs and crackdowns

Historically, Thailand's political imbroglio has significant regional precedents. Thailand's PAD has obviously cribbed its protest cues from the people-power movement that coalesced in 1986 to oust from power the Philippines' democratically elected dictator, Ferdinand Marcos . A similar popular movement unceremoniously pushed democratically elected Indonesian strongman Suharto from power in 1998.

Both authoritarian leaders famously manipulated elections to lend democratic legitimacy to their long and heavy-handed rule. In Indonesia, Suharto famously orchestrated what he referred to as "festivals of democracy", dressing up polls that were tightly controlled by his Golkar party's formidable political and military machinery. Marcos similarly stage-managed elections, mainly to please his military allies in the US.

Rampant corruption and abuse of power finally undercut the legitimacy of both Southeast Asian authoritarian regimes. Now with similar allegations being lodged against Thaksin's democratically elected government, the question is whether Thailand has reached a similar point of political inflection.

Both Suharto and Marcos came under varying degrees of popular pressure to resign their posts, and both leaders cracked down viciously against their opponents, suspending civil liberties and jailing dissenters in the process. A series of mysterious bombs blasted public buildings, private offices and department stores in Manila in 1972, blamed on communists but planted by Marcos's allies, provided the pretext for Marcos to declare martial law, crack down on the media, jail the opposition and maintain an unrivaled grip on power for an additional 16 years. worth considering when thinking of Thailand's future under Thaksin.

It is not inconceivable that Thaksin will attempt to do the same, particularly if the protests intensify after the election. There are growing hints that Byzantine politics are at play. A series of mysterious bombs have been planted in front of the offices and headquarters of various PAD leaders. In late March, a bomb was defused before detonating in front of the Democrat Party's Bangkok headquarters. A bomb also exploded in front of the residence of chief privy councilor Prem Tinsulanonda, widely viewed as reclusive (His Majesty) King Bhumibol's public conscience.

Thai police investigating the incidents have failed to uncover any leads or suspects behind the small-scale explosions. At the same time, police have started to record the critical public speeches made by PAD protest leaders, and last week Thaksin filed criminal defamation lawsuits against four Thai newspapers that published in full the speeches of protest leaders.

Thai Rak Thai officials have also said they have compiled enough evidence to file as many as 40 different criminal defamation suits (the lawyer "teams" must be whistling gleefully ) against PAD ringleader and media personality Sondhi Limthongkul. They are also investigating allegations that one of Sondhi's recent speeches could be construed as lese majeste for referring to the monarchy.

Kom Chad Leuk, a Thai language daily that published Sondhi's remarks, publicly apologized and agreed to stop publishing for five days after having their offices besieged by pro-Thaksin supporters. It is altogether possible that Thaksin might make legal moves against other critics who have mentioned the monarchy in their public critiques of his government - carrying possible jail terms of more than 20 years.

There are ominous signs that Thaksin's government is preparing for a crackdown. One senior Thai Rak Thai party member has already indicated that the government will view any protests held after Sunday's election as "acts of rebellion", signaling a possible more confrontational approach toward the so far peaceful protests. Thaksin's unexplained promotion of Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya, a former police general and close Thaksin ally, as his second in command has been interpreted by some political insiders as a move designed to absolve the premier from legal responsibility for an eventual police-led crackdown on protesters. "Who me? It wasn't me that ordered the shootings, it was Chidchai."

Any crackdown would almost certainly require the military to step in and restore law and order. And there are signs that Thaksin is preparing for just such an eventuality. This year's mid-year military reshuffle has been delayed due to the deteriorating political situation. Army Commander Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, who has steadfastly insisted that the army would remain neutral and not get involved in the conflict, has reportedly expressed his displeasure at Thaksin's attempts to promote a large number of his former police cadet school colleagues over more senior officers to army units responsible for Bangkok's security. Nothing irks military personnel more than that sort of garbage.

Above the fray

(His Majesty) King Bhumibol's steadying and unifying influence sets Thailand apart from other regional countries that have slipped into prolonged periods of political chaos. Long Live His Majesty King Bhumibol The monarch hovers above the cut-and-thrust fray of daily politics, and historically has intervened only in times of genuine national crisis, most recently during the bloodshed of 1992.

Sunday's election will inevitable lead Thailand toward a constitutional void. By calling an election that, due to the opposition's boycott, will not meet all the legal requirements under the 1997 charter, Thaksin faces a potential post-election constitutional challenge from his opponents. If parliament can not be legally convened, and the country drifts into political chaos without a functioning government, then the conditions would be ripe under Article 7 for the (His Majesty) King's intervention.

As Thailand heads for inconclusive polls and the people-power movement vows to up the tempo of its protests, (His Majesty) King Bhumibol's influence increasingly seems the best bet for a peaceful and lasting solution to Thailand's grinding political conflict.

- Asia Times Online

with apologies for the parade of for Marcos ... lived under his martial law and I'd pi$$ on his grave and wish him a long stay in He11....

[sushiman]

26 March - BTS Phrom Phong - Emporium - Slideshow "A peacefully unitited rally"

Really bad news that today and yesterday some Thaksin supporters in Bangkok and Chiangmai are now turning a peaceful demonstration/rally into a fist war. How much did he heat them up, during his rally speaches, I wonder?

I hope it will end peacefully once the "Care-shaker" has stepped down and released his hijacking from this shaking airplane (Thailand).

Demonstrate - Raise your opinons: YES!

Acts of Violance: NO!

Vote for "Not Vote" on Sunday, and save the country.

Edited March 31, 2006 by sushiman

[britmaveric]

Vote whether its Yes/No, however I think a mandate for the PM will come.

[sriracha john]

What is The Irrawaddy News?

Where are they located>?

I thought that Irrawaddy is the river flowing through most of Burma. So what's with this name?

It is... good geography knowledge...

The Irrawaddy is published by the Irrawaddy Publishing Group (IPG). IPG was established in 1992 by Burmese citizens living in exile and is not affiliated with any political party or organization. The Irrawaddy seeks to promote press freedom and access to unbiased information.

We are undergoing a few changes in the year 2000, including a change of name. Burma Information Group will be known as the Irrawaddy Publishing Group (IPG) to reflect the fact that we now include other areas of Southeast Asia in our coverage. While we no longer use the word "Burma" in our name, however, we would like to retain our Burmese identity. Just as the Irrawaddy River has for centuries supported Burmese civilization, the Irrawaddy Publishing Group hopes to contribute to a flourishing culture in Burma based on the free flow of information. At the same time, like many major rivers, the Irrawaddy is not contained by national boundaries.

*edit* ... add

CONTACT ADDRESS:

P.O.BOX 242

CHIANG MAI UNIVERSITY POST OFFICE

CHIANG MAI 50202

THAILAND

Edited March 31, 2006 by sriracha john

[sonnyJ]

Thanks lung!

Some interesting news but I'd like to now who are these publishers and where are they located?

Kyat 1250, I would have expected more. 5 years ago 750. less than 100 %. Inflation seems to have slowed down over there.

[lukamar]

Vote for "Not Vote" on Sunday, and save the country.

Sushiman, you are preaching to a group here, who in almost every case, is not allowed to vote in the election. We will all know soon who is in charge of the country.

[sushiman]

Hi Lukamar,

I guess everbody (Thai citiziens which never missed any polls in the last year)

is allowed to vote here (you mean the Democrats themselves?).

And if we (the ones how would like to see a wind of change) get 50% of votes against Thaksin, even "No Votes = Tick the No Vote Box" (he said he will step done if he doesn't get 50% of "all" votes, right?).

So if you tick the No Vote Box (which you can do), you can cast your opinion to vote for noone, which I think is a better boycot of these elections, than not go at all to the polls.

Agree?

Sorry maybe I didnt get your point or the news?

Please clarify your point.

Cheers

Sushiman

[sonnyJ]

And thanks Sriracha John. Seems like a real news website.So are they officially in Thailand or..???

/quote IPG was established in 1992 by Burmese citizens living in exile and is not affiliated with any political party or organization. The Irrawaddy seeks to promote press freedom and access to unbiased information.

The problem is that we can apply this explanation to dozens of Anti-Burma web sites in Europe and US, which are completely politically biazed and going way over line.

Guess I'll just have to study this one more, promising yes..