'White Mask' Guards Seen Trying To Hit Redshirts With Iron Bars

[Lite Beer]

'White Mask' Guards Seen Trying To Hit Redshirts With Iron Bars

BANGKOK: -- Rival political rallies by anti-government protesters wearing ′Guy Fawkes′ masks and pro-government Redshirts in central Bangkok came close to violence after a group of so-called White Masks used makeshift weapons to chase down a few Redshirts passing their way.

Hundreds of the White Masks were gathering in front of Central World shopping to voice their opposition to the government of PM Yingluck Shinawatra. They said Ms. Yingluck served as proxy for her brother Former PM Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted by military coup in 2006. According to the protesters, Mr. Thaksin was a corrupt tyrant, while many also accuse him of secretly harboring anti-monarchy sentiments.

Just opposite Central World, scores of Redshirts were holding a rally of their own around Ratchaprasong Intersection sign - the site of their mass protests in April-May 2010 - to show support for the government. A number of police were deployed to keep the 2 rival groups separated.

Nonetheless, tension flared up around 14.00 when a member of the guards team of the anti-government activists received message from his radio that 3 Redshirts on 2 motorcycles were headed from Ratchaprasong toward Pratunam.

Read More: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNM01UTTROalk1TXc9PQ==&sectionid=TURFd01BPT0=

-- KHAOSOD ENGLISH 2013-06-16

[Thai at Heart]

'White Mask' Guards Seen Trying To Hit Redshirts With Iron Bars

BANGKOK: -- Rival political rallies by anti-government protesters wearing ′Guy Fawkes′ masks and pro-government Redshirts in central Bangkok came close to violence after a group of so-called White Masks used makeshift weapons to chase down a few Redshirts passing their way.

Hundreds of the White Masks were gathering in front of Central World shopping to voice their opposition to the government of PM Yingluck Shinawatra. They said Ms. Yingluck served as proxy for her brother Former PM Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted by military coup in 2006. According to the protesters, Mr. Thaksin was a corrupt tyrant, while many also accuse him of secretly harboring anti-monarchy sentiments.

Just opposite Central World, scores of Redshirts were holding a rally of their own around Ratchaprasong Intersection sign - the site of their mass protests in April-May 2010 - to show support for the government. A number of police were deployed to keep the 2 rival groups separated.

Nonetheless, tension flared up around 14.00 when a member of the guards team of the anti-government activists received message from his radio that 3 Redshirts on 2 motorcycles were headed from Ratchaprasong toward Pratunam.

Read More: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNM01UTTROalk1TXc9PQ==&sectionid=TURFd01BPT0=

-- KHAOSOD ENGLISH 2013-06-16

The anti monarchy sentiment. Anonymous will probably hack ASTV in the morning. Don't they get it yet? Playing the anti monarchy line doesn't work?

Isn't it enough that they are possibly running off with bazillions of public money and messing with the country's fiancial reputation?

[KireB]

Action is reaction comes to mind and it seems that we are in for a rocky ride in Thailand. A Red versus the rest conflict could easily escalate.

[seajae]

hahahaha, the whites are hitting back at last, funny how the police protected the red shirts but last time let the red shirts do the same thing to the whites without raising a hand, favouratism is rife with the ptp groups and the police, this just shows the police are just another branch of the ptp.

[rubl]

Escalation seems to start at the interesting Thai level of 'you did, so I also do'. Fools.

[Gulfsailor]

Fake white masks?...

[Thai at Heart]

The moral high ground seems just too principled....

[Noistar]

Escalation seems to start at the interesting Thai level of 'you did, so I also do'. Fools.

The great playground - aka Thailand.

Wonder who keeps the peaceful majority from being bullied?

[jackr]

'White Mask' Guards Seen Trying To Hit Redshirts With Iron Bars

Nowt wrong with that. Next.

[Thaiwine]

what springs to mind with me is the sayings

"do unto others as they do unto you"

or

"what goes around comes around"

[15Peter20]

Red shirts attack peaceful whitemasks - this violence is deplorable.

Whitemasks attack peaceful redshirts - this violence is understandable.

hhmm...I think I'm getting the hang of moral supremacy 101 a la TV now.

[OzMick]

Red shirts attack peaceful whitemasks - this violence is deplorable.

Whitemasks attack peaceful redshirts - this violence is understandable.

hhmm...I think I'm getting the hang of moral supremacy 101 a la TV now.

Well now try to grasp some advanced concepts like "quantity" and "intensity".

[cyberholz]

They lose an election, they start a war.

[waza]

This looks like some red propaganda to me, why is only reported in this news paper, a pro Thaksin propaganda rag. The people in the picture are dressed in pink, and no assaults, white masks, redshirts or motorbikes are evident in them.

Edited June 16, 2013 by waza

[soi41]

Now we are just waiting for TAT, to tell us how this is going to increase the number of tourists even more!!

Was this the very forum, where I today saw a thread about the philosophical Thais??

[15Peter20]

Red shirts attack peaceful whitemasks - this violence is deplorable.

Whitemasks attack peaceful redshirts - this violence is understandable.

hhmm...I think I'm getting the hang of moral supremacy 101 a la TV now.

Well now try to grasp some advanced concepts like "quantity" and "intensity".

Okay, I'll give it a go.

Violent red shirts pictured yesterday - 6-ish?

Violent whitemasks pictured today - 2-3?

Verdict - red shirts are worse.

Red shirt intensity pictured yesterday - very angry with sticks, fists and boots

Whitemasks intensity pictured today - calm with metal rods

Verdict - whitemasks are worse due to deadlier weapons, although possibly a tie since the reds looked so angry

Feel free to pass judgement if you wish.

Edited June 16, 2013 by 15Peter20

[Thai at Heart]

Now we are just waiting for TAT, to tell us how this is going to increase the number of tourists even more!!

Was this the very forum, where I today saw a thread about the philosophical Thais??

Yingluck is probably hoping this means moodys cancel their meeting this week

[rubl]

It's not really a matter of who is worse, it's a matter who provoked possible violence. With 'provoking' I do not mean the mere fact of protesting peacefully. That's within normal bounds.

In CM a small group of white masks was set upon by a large, 200 red-shirt crowd which had formed elsewhere and marched purposefully towards the white masks.

In Bangkok we have a white mask protest and protesting that we have a red-shirt protest right opposite on the same street. That I would call provocative. The precise info on the red-short motorcycles is lacking, unclear if they 'just happened to join up' or were just driving on the wrong side of the road.

BTW before I'm accused of double standards, see my post #5 here.

[15Peter20]

This looks like some red propaganda to me, why is only reported in this news paper, a pro Thaksin propaganda rag. The people in the picture are dressed in pink, and no assaults, white masks, redshirts or motorbikes are evident in them.

This is all I could find. Hope it helps:

Khaosod Newspaper Thailand is a Thai daily newspaper with national circulation. Founded on April 9th 1991, Khaosod is the youngest newsprint of Matichon Publishing Group which also operates two other daily news publications: Matichon and Prachachat.

Khaosod is more ‘mass-oriented’ and ‘upcountry-focused’ in style than its sister newspapers under Matichon Group, as its circulation records show 300,000 copies per day. Nevertheless, despite heavy features on crimes, local affairs, and entertainment like other major national newspapers (such as Thai Rath and Daily News), the newspaper also remains keen on political and social issues similar to its sister newspapers Matichon and Prachachat. As a news publication under Matichon Group, Khaosod is under management of Kanchai Boonparn who also oversees Matichon Group as a whole.

[15Peter20]

It's not really a matter of who is worse, it's a matter who provoked possible violence. With 'provoking' I do not mean the mere fact of protesting peacefully. That's within normal bounds.

In CM a small group of white masks was set upon by a large, 200 red-shirt crowd which had formed elsewhere and marched purposefully towards the white masks.

In Bangkok we have a white mask protest and protesting that we have a red-shirt protest right opposite on the same street. That I would call provocative. The precise info on the red-short motorcycles is lacking, unclear if they 'just happened to join up' or were just driving on the wrong side of the road.

BTW before I'm accused of double standards, see my post #5 here.

Fair enough. the only thing I would question is that 200 reds 'set upon' a small group. If this had happened - without police intervention as reports suggest - how come no one went to hospital? 200 reds may well have been there, but I would only say a much smaller number were involved in the violence, just like the few metal-rod bearing whitemasks didn't equate to an entire group of bloodthirsty idiots.

And as to the question of provocation, that's so difficult to prove as it becomes a chicken-and-egg proposition. Of more interest is to consider what the likely outcomes would be if one group was seen as the trouble-maker and the other the innocent and wronged party. This though is mainly significant on a wider scale - its impact on public perception.

One should also remember though that at street level there is the element of tribal breastbeating we also see in violence between groups such as rivals schools and other gangs. When these folks get all carried away they contribute to the broader outcome, possibly to the detriment of their own broader group (they exist in smaller groups with whom they identify more readily then with the umbrella 'red shirt movement') without even really thinking about it hence the redshirts apparent ability to throw reason out of the window - together with public endorsement - each time a few of their nuttier members goes mad in response to a banner or somesuch, as happened yesterday in Chiang Mai.

[hellodolly]

'White Mask' Guards Seen Trying To Hit Redshirts With Iron Bars

BANGKOK: -- Rival political rallies by anti-government protesters wearing ′Guy Fawkes′ masks and pro-government Redshirts in central Bangkok came close to violence after a group of so-called White Masks used makeshift weapons to chase down a few Redshirts passing their way.

Hundreds of the White Masks were gathering in front of Central World shopping to voice their opposition to the government of PM Yingluck Shinawatra. They said Ms. Yingluck served as proxy for her brother Former PM Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted by military coup in 2006. According to the protesters, Mr. Thaksin was a corrupt tyrant, while many also accuse him of secretly harboring anti-monarchy sentiments.

Just opposite Central World, scores of Redshirts were holding a rally of their own around Ratchaprasong Intersection sign - the site of their mass protests in April-May 2010 - to show support for the government. A number of police were deployed to keep the 2 rival groups separated.

Nonetheless, tension flared up around 14.00 when a member of the guards team of the anti-government activists received message from his radio that 3 Redshirts on 2 motorcycles were headed from Ratchaprasong toward Pratunam.

Read More: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNM01UTTROalk1TXc9PQ==&sectionid=TURFd01BPT0=

-- KHAOSOD ENGLISH 2013-06-16

The anti monarchy sentiment. Anonymous will probably hack ASTV in the morning. Don't they get it yet? Playing the anti monarchy line doesn't work?

Isn't it enough that they are possibly running off with bazillions of public money and messing with the country's fiancial reputation?

Apparently sadly not

[hellodolly]

It's not really a matter of who is worse, it's a matter who provoked possible violence. With 'provoking' I do not mean the mere fact of protesting peacefully. That's within normal bounds.

In CM a small group of white masks was set upon by a large, 200 red-shirt crowd which had formed elsewhere and marched purposefully towards the white masks.

In Bangkok we have a white mask protest and protesting that we have a red-shirt protest right opposite on the same street. That I would call provocative. The precise info on the red-short motorcycles is lacking, unclear if they 'just happened to join up' or were just driving on the wrong side of the road.

BTW before I'm accused of double standards, see my post #5 here.

I completely agree with you. It is becoming a predictable pattern with the red shirts. Any anti government protest and conveniently the red shirts have a rally right next to them. Generally their rallies consists of making noise throwing things and any thing they can do to disrupt the anti government protestors.

I am not saying things are getting out of hand but they are very very close to the point where if Thaksin does return He won't live long. That is not a suggestion it is a real belief I have based on the amount of conflict he has caused here in Thailand.

[hellodolly]

It's not really a matter of who is worse, it's a matter who provoked possible violence. With 'provoking' I do not mean the mere fact of protesting peacefully. That's within normal bounds.

In CM a small group of white masks was set upon by a large, 200 red-shirt crowd which had formed elsewhere and marched purposefully towards the white masks.

In Bangkok we have a white mask protest and protesting that we have a red-shirt protest right opposite on the same street. That I would call provocative. The precise info on the red-short motorcycles is lacking, unclear if they 'just happened to join up' or were just driving on the wrong side of the road.

BTW before I'm accused of double standards, see my post #5 here.

Fair enough. the only thing I would question is that 200 reds 'set upon' a small group. If this had happened - without police intervention as reports suggest - how come no one went to hospital? 200 reds may well have been there, but I would only say a much smaller number were involved in the violence, just like the few metal-rod bearing whitemasks didn't equate to an entire group of bloodthirsty idiots.

And as to the question of provocation, that's so difficult to prove as it becomes a chicken-and-egg proposition. Of more interest is to consider what the likely outcomes would be if one group was seen as the trouble-maker and the other the innocent and wronged party. This though is mainly significant on a wider scale - its impact on public perception.

One should also remember though that at street level there is the element of tribal breastbeating we also see in violence between groups such as rivals schools and other gangs. When these folks get all carried away they contribute to the broader outcome, possibly to the detriment of their own broader group (they exist in smaller groups with whom they identify more readily then with the umbrella 'red shirt movement') without even really thinking about it hence the redshirts apparent ability to throw reason out of the window - together with public endorsement - each time a few of their nuttier members goes mad in response to a banner or somesuch, as happened yesterday in Chiang Mai.

I can't believe you really mean this

"And as to the question of provocation, that's so difficult to prove as it becomes a chicken-and-egg proposition. Of more interest is to consider what the likely outcomes would be if one group was seen as the trouble-maker and the other the innocent and wronged party. This though is mainly significant on a wider scale - its impact on public perception."

It is an almost guaranteed thing to have the red shirts set up a rally opposite the Dems or any other anti government rally after the anti Government rally has been announced. In Chiang Mai they formed their rally and then marched to where the white mask rally was.

The question of provocation, is an automatic yes. The red shirts are forming up to cause disruption in a group of people who are smarter than them and can see that money is flowing out of their wallet not into it.

[15Peter20]

It's not really a matter of who is worse, it's a matter who provoked possible violence. With 'provoking' I do not mean the mere fact of protesting peacefully. That's within normal bounds.

In CM a small group of white masks was set upon by a large, 200 red-shirt crowd which had formed elsewhere and marched purposefully towards the white masks.

In Bangkok we have a white mask protest and protesting that we have a red-shirt protest right opposite on the same street. That I would call provocative. The precise info on the red-short motorcycles is lacking, unclear if they 'just happened to join up' or were just driving on the wrong side of the road.

BTW before I'm accused of double standards, see my post #5 here.

Fair enough. the only thing I would question is that 200 reds 'set upon' a small group. If this had happened - without police intervention as reports suggest - how come no one went to hospital? 200 reds may well have been there, but I would only say a much smaller number were involved in the violence, just like the few metal-rod bearing whitemasks didn't equate to an entire group of bloodthirsty idiots.

And as to the question of provocation, that's so difficult to prove as it becomes a chicken-and-egg proposition. Of more interest is to consider what the likely outcomes would be if one group was seen as the trouble-maker and the other the innocent and wronged party. This though is mainly significant on a wider scale - its impact on public perception.

One should also remember though that at street level there is the element of tribal breastbeating we also see in violence between groups such as rivals schools and other gangs. When these folks get all carried away they contribute to the broader outcome, possibly to the detriment of their own broader group (they exist in smaller groups with whom they identify more readily then with the umbrella 'red shirt movement') without even really thinking about it hence the redshirts apparent ability to throw reason out of the window - together with public endorsement - each time a few of their nuttier members goes mad in response to a banner or somesuch, as happened yesterday in Chiang Mai.

I can't believe you really mean this

"And as to the question of provocation, that's so difficult to prove as it becomes a chicken-and-egg proposition. Of more interest is to consider what the likely outcomes would be if one group was seen as the trouble-maker and the other the innocent and wronged party. This though is mainly significant on a wider scale - its impact on public perception."

It is an almost guaranteed thing to have the red shirts set up a rally opposite the Dems or any other anti government rally after the anti Government rally has been announced. In Chiang Mai they formed their rally and then marched to where the white mask rally was.

The question of provocation, is an automatic yes. The red shirts are forming up to cause disruption in a group of people who are smarter than them and can see that money is flowing out of their wallet not into it.

I agree with you in as much as being in close proximity with a rival group is to court danger. Whether or not it constitutes sufficient provocation for the other group to turn violent is debatable though. At the end of the day, it was the red shirts that were guilty of violent disorder yesterday, and the whitemasks guilty of it today. I guess in the west the police would ensure that the two groups didn't come near each other.

[monkfish]

Wonder who came up with the Guy Fawkes mask idea??

Could it be someone educated in the UK?

Advise Mr Abhisi stays well clear to avoid finger pointing and such.

Ooops maybe tooooo late!!

[rubl]

Finger pointing, Guy Fawkes mask, educated in the UK? A bit of obfuscation to muddlethe field.

Maybe more like feeling a relation to other countries springtime? Opposing non-elected elites who also happen to be criminal fugitives? People wondering about a mere 40% loss on a singles year rice pledging without any details, but assurances that some trickled down to poor farmers, are pointedly better educated that those who fell for the scam?

I'm amazed. Another member who seems to suggest the red-shirts are non-educated?

[PoodMaiDai]

Wonder who came up with the Guy Fawkes mask idea??

Could it be someone educated in the UK?

Advise Mr Abhisi stays well clear to avoid finger pointing and such.

Ooops maybe tooooo late!!

Na, they are just doing what they do, copy others. They are even calling it the "Thai spring" which is clearly copied from the Arab Spring. But I'd bet ya 100,000b not one of them knows who Guy Fawkes is. But it looks cool, protesters around the world are wearing them now, and lets be honest, it's a lot more hip than a colored shirt. Oh, and most of all... it hides their face.

[monkfish]

Wonder who came up with the Guy Fawkes mask idea??

Could it be someone educated in the UK?

Advise Mr Abhisi stays well clear to avoid finger pointing and such.

Ooops maybe tooooo late!!

Na, they are just doing what they do, copy others. They are even calling it the "Thai spring" which is clearly copied from the Arab Spring. But I'd bet ya 100,000b not one of them knows who Guy Fawkes is. But it looks cool, protesters around the world are wearing them now, and lets be honest, it's a lot more hip than a colored shirt. Oh, and most of all... it hides their face.

Could be true but who was the first GUY to turn up?? people ain't as stupid as he may think

[monkfish]

Finger pointing, Guy Fawkes mask, educated in the UK? A bit of obfuscation to muddlethe field.

Maybe more like feeling a relation to other countries springtime? Opposing non-elected elites who also happen to be criminal fugitives? People wondering about a mere 40% loss on a singles year rice pledging without any details, but assurances that some trickled down to poor farmers, are pointedly better educated that those who fell for the scam?

I'm amazed. Another member who seems to suggest the red-shirts are non-educated?

Your avarage Brit has no idea about Guy Fawkes apart from the fact they can get a bit more merry than usual, burn af fire, let off some firewokks ect.

So who the <deleted> came up with idea?? probably somebody who new a lot about British history .

More than your average brit perhaps some with a joly good education!

Edited June 16, 2013 by monkfish

[rogerluli]

I seem to have missed something in the middle...I thought it was the red shirts vs yellow shirts...Although it was thoughtful of them to keep things color-coordinated so that bystanders could tell what's what...