Bangkok: Many anti-govt groups planning street protests

[webfact]

POLITICS
Many anti-govt groups planning street protests
The Nation

Pitak Siam

BANGKOK: -- Anti-government groups are firming up plans for street rallies ahead of the parliamentary deliberation on August 7 of an amnesty bill proposed by a group of MPs from the ruling Pheu Thai Party.

The protests will be scheduled on different days, but it is not clear, according to the latest remarks by their leaders, whether they will be staged at the same venue. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is due to leave for an official trip to Africa today and return on August 3, two days after Parliament convenes.

Opposition Leader Abhisit Vejjajiva called on the prime minister and her government to avoid a return to civil strife, referring to its rush to pass an amnesty law. The government should devote its energy to addressing the plight of the common people, he said.

"It all depends on the government. People will take to the streets within seven days. The prime minister can decide not to bring the country back to a conflict, and instead focus on tackling the problem about the cost of living. It depends on whether she will do that," said Abhisit, who is also the Democrat Party leader.

The Democrats are arranging for their "Reveal the Truth" show against an amnesty bill to take place some time between August 3 and 6 at Bangkok venues to be selected.

Critics and opposition politicians have alleged that there have been attempts to include fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra among the targets of an amnesty bill.

The People's Army to Overthrow the Thaksin Regime, formerly known as Pitak Siam, called a meeting of group leaders in the afternoon at the Royal Turf Club. The group would conduct a peaceful rally but would not allow provincial authorities and police to block them from gathering in Bangkok. It would consider legal action if it is prevented.

Tul Sitthisomwong, a leader of the multi-coloured-shirts movement, said his group would rally outside Parliament between August 5 and 8 to protest against the amnesty bill.

Suriyasai Katasila, coordinator of the Green Politics Group, said he suspected the amnesty bill would be drafted in a way to benefit Thaksin and the red-shirt leaders facing legal problems in connection with the 2010 unrest.

The People's Alliance for Democracy will call a rally if it finds that the amnesty law proposed by Pheu Thai MP Worachai Hema is intended to help Thaksin escape legal problems, PAD spokesman Parnthep Puapongphan said.

Vasit Dejkunchorn, a retired former deputy police chief and head of Thai Spring, said his group would demonstrate against the amnesty bill outside Parliament House.


-- The Nation 2013-07-26

[Soi Sauce]

Unite and you may achieve something.

Teams win.

[GentlemanJim]

So yet again we have the PM leaving the country while Parliament convenes Talk about being in the wrong job.

[patjem]

So, the reconvening of parliament isn't an important priority for the so=called "leader"!

[Pimay1]

So, the reconvening of parliament isn't an important priority for the so=called "leader"!

It has never been important much less a priority to Yingluck.

[Skywalker69]

So, the reconvening of parliament isn't an important priority for the so=called "leader"!

Nope, a visit to Africa is much more important.

[chooka]

So, the reconvening of parliament isn't an important priority for the so=called "leader"!

Nope, a visit to Africa is much more important.

Have to off load the rice somewhere.

[Tatsujin]

Perhaps they should take over downtown Bangkok for months, make ridiculous demands, disrupt business, riot, burn down buildings, shoot at civilians and Army and see how this current Govt likes it. It is apparently a legitimate form of protest.

[MILT]

So, the reconvening of parliament isn't an important priority for the so=called "leader"!

Nope, a visit to Africa is much more important. alt=blink.png width=20 height=20>

Have to off load the rice somewhere.

Like maybe Nigeria?

[drdoom6996]

So yet again we have the PM leaving the country while Parliament convenes Talk about being in the wrong job.

+1, laughable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Baerboxer]

So, the reconvening of parliament isn't an important priority for the so=called "leader"!

She must be trying to set some kind of Guiness book of world records achievements. PM wiith least attendance in parliament, PM with most air miles paid for by tax payers, PM with most extra ministerial jobs - PM/DM could be just the start, PM with most cabinet re-shuffles, PM with most silly comments. The list is endless - just shows what real talent can achieve when you've got the family behind you.

[h90]

So yet again we have the PM leaving the country while Parliament convenes Talk about being in the wrong job.

Why? You go into politics to make as much money as possible as quick as possible.

Parliament convenes doesn't make any money and the decisions are anyway made in Dubai. So why waste time?

[billd766]

Perhaps they should take over downtown Bangkok for months, make ridiculous demands, disrupt business, riot, burn down buildings, shoot at civilians and Army and see how this current Govt likes it. It is apparently a legitimate form of protest.

Not strictly true UNLESS you are wearing a Red Shirt and want to be a government minister (Jatupon excepted).

[OzMick]

If the amnesty bill is debated the PM has to be out of the country so that she can't accused of a conflict of interest in a bill which is designed to benefit her family. Few are in doubt that is the aim, and she would either have to recuse herself, admitting that goal, or vote in favour and face possible criminal charges at a later date.

[newermonkey]

What colour tee shirts will they be wearing?

Used up already are:

1) Red -(red shirts)

2) Yellow -(Dems)

3) Blue -(Pattaya anti reds)

4) Black -(3rd party, assassins)

5) Saffron -(Monks)

6) White -(Nuns)

7) Pink -(Gays & some schools)

8) Green -(Green Party)

9) Brown -(Police)

[OzMick]

What colour tee shirts will they be wearing?

Used up already are:

1) Red -(red shirts)

2) Yellow -(Dems)

3) Blue -(Pattaya anti reds)

4) Black -(3rd party, assassins)

5) Saffron -(Monks)

6) White -(Nuns)

7) Pink -(Gays & some schools)

8) Green -(Green Party)

9) Brown -(Police)

I believe in Thailand the colour purple is connected to homosexuality, not pink. Something to do with "making Whoopi"?????

Edited July 26, 2013 by OzMick

[jcb2001]

Yingluck to be out of the country during the upcoming important session of parliament?

I seriously think that Yingluck believes the anti government protest facing Pheu Thai will turn into a public disaster for her government or even a coup. She will not be around to see what happens. She can't handle the pressure and the heat from the opposition is too much for her. She has no experience with how to deal with the day to day criticism she and her government are facing.

[tingtongteesood]

Perhaps they should take over downtown Bangkok for months, make ridiculous demands, disrupt business, riot, burn down buildings, shoot at civilians and Army and see how this current Govt likes it. It is apparently a legitimate form of protest.

Very funny,but seriously, if all these groups united and didn't do any of the above, just made their presence and their dislike of the government known yet remained entirely peaceful and undisruptive, I feel they would accomplish far more...

[khunken]

Perhaps they should take over downtown Bangkok for months, make ridiculous demands, disrupt business, riot, burn down buildings, shoot at civilians and Army and see how this current Govt likes it. It is apparently a legitimate form of protest.

Very funny,but seriously, if all these groups united and didn't do any of the above, just made their presence and their dislike of the government known yet remained entirely peaceful and undisruptive, I feel they would accomplish far more...

I don't think so.

They would have to run the gauntlet of police razor wire blockages, tear gas, and red shirt intimidation. Disruptive protests seem to achieve more than peaceful ones.

[backtonormal]

Perhaps they should take over downtown Bangkok for months, make ridiculous demands, disrupt business, riot, burn down buildings, shoot at civilians and Army and see how this current Govt likes it. It is apparently a legitimate form of protest.

Very funny,but seriously, if all these groups united and didn't do any of the above, just made their presence and their dislike of the government known yet remained entirely peaceful and undisruptive, I feel they would accomplish far more...

Not possible to get these groups together because they are the same people at each anti government rally in a different colour or mask. Oh and paid for trouble causers , usually career squaddies

[mikemac]

Perhaps they should take over downtown Bangkok for months, make ridiculous demands, disrupt business, riot, burn down buildings, shoot at civilians and Army and see how this current Govt likes it. It is apparently a legitimate form of protest.

Can you imagine the uproar if someone other than the redshirt terrorists carried out the crap listed above ? You would hear the complaints all the way to Dubai !

Edited July 26, 2013 by mikemac

[Thai at Heart]

Yingluck to be out of the country during the upcoming important session of parliament?

I seriously think that Yingluck believes the anti government protest facing Pheu Thai will turn into a public disaster for her government or even a coup. She will not be around to see what happens. She can't handle the pressure and the heat from the opposition is too much for her. She has no experience with how to deal with the day to day criticism she and her government are facing.

The Shinawatra clan obviously haven't learnt too much about exiting the country when vital parliamentary issues are being debated.

[Tatsujin]

Perhaps they should take over downtown Bangkok for months, make ridiculous demands, disrupt business, riot, burn down buildings, shoot at civilians and Army and see how this current Govt likes it. It is apparently a legitimate form of protest.

Very funny,but seriously, if all these groups united and didn't do any of the above, just made their presence and their dislike of the government known yet remained entirely peaceful and undisruptive, I feel they would accomplish far more...

A peaceful protest in Thailand that does not disrupt anyone or anything. That would be a novelty. Love to see it.

[Tatsujin]

So yet again we have the PM leaving the country while Parliament convenes Talk about being in the wrong job.

It's not a job, it's a paid shopping spree. All at the "people's" expense. She'd last 2 mins in a western country before the Press dissed her and she got booted out.

[Tatsujin]

Perhaps they should take over downtown Bangkok for months, make ridiculous demands, disrupt business, riot, burn down buildings, shoot at civilians and Army and see how this current Govt likes it. It is apparently a legitimate form of protest.

Not strictly true UNLESS you are wearing a Red Shirt and want to be a government minister (Jatupon excepted).

Well, it's been a legitimate form of protest for both the Reds + Yellows (with the airport) in recent years and others before them.

[h90]

What colour tee shirts will they be wearing?

Used up already are:

1) Red -(red shirts)

2) Yellow -(Dems)

3) Blue -(Pattaya anti reds)

4) Black -(3rd party, assassins)

5) Saffron -(Monks)

6) White -(Nuns)

7) Pink -(Gays & some schools)

8) Green -(Green Party)

9) Brown -(Police)

Even multi color is already used. Gold and silver (I know not colors) aren't used yet.

For silver they could use tin foil, which is cheap.