Thai Police prepare for possible major protest or riots over amnesty bill

[OzMick]

I attended a yellow shirt riot. Yes it happens. They are nasty too.

They took over and ransacked Gov House, occupied an intersection in town for months and forced the airport to shutdown.

They they spears, baseball bats, machetes, slingshots, ping pong bombs, car bombs, black shirts & guns.

One of them even ran over a policeman...then backed over him again.

The Colonel that was head of yellow security even accidently blew himself up with a car bomb. The Nation didn't cover that?

Wonder where that bomb was heading?

When they shot a bunch of police, the Chula Hospital (yellow shirt hospital) wouldn't treat the wounded.

In the Wikileaks info (that you wont see published in Thailand,) the yellow leadership instigated violence on purpose, hoping to get at least a dozen killed to prompt the coup. At least that was the info the US Ambassador had.

Eventually they got their coup after the airport takeover.

The airport takeover cost 280 billion alone according to the bank of thailand. Not mentioned in The Nation.

Please remind me again, how many people outside the protester's ranks were killed? How many grenades were thrown/fired, how many were observed carrying military rifles, and how many buildings did they burn down?

BTW Protesters were taken to Chula, police were taken to the nearby police hospital, so there would not be conflict inside hospitals. Unlike.........

[Thai at Heart]

Funnily, they were marching around in our up country town yesterday at the police training area.

At least 1000 very young looking coppers

[hellodolly]

Sounds familiar

No . . . not familiar . . . the Police were suspiciously absent/lethargic back in 2010. It was mostly left to the Army to come in and try to sort the problems that could have been nipped in the bud long before if the Police had done their job properly back then.

When the yellows riot, the police are called in and shoot tear gas.

When the reds riot the army is called in and shoot machine guns.

Civil war right around the corner folks.

The only reason the army was called in was because the police refused to do their job.

They were completely willing to leave Bangkok wide open to terrorism rather than confine it to a small area.

So far what have the police done other than act as traffic guides at red shirt rallies and try to stop people from getting into non red shirt rallies. What about the Democrat rallies where the red shirts showed up throwing things and disrupting the speakers where were the police.

It never ceases to amaze me how a red shirt can do and get away with any thing they want to do.Then some one comes and post here on a forum with people far more educated than red shirts that they do no wrong it is the other fellow.

This is the type of thinking in this country that will If you are a red shirt get some one to explain it to you.

[belg]

time to invest in some water cannons

they can fill them with som tam if people do not move with normal water

[Sunderland]

As much as people may want or not want a civil war to 'sort out' the country's problems, it's highly unlikely. Too much apathy from the general public, and the army are not on the verge of getting involved. It's going to be no more than more months of arguing, making silly faces, idle threats, fake videos and shopping trips. There's no passion for a battle among the majority. Mai pen rai ... and what's for tea?

[rubl]

When the yellows riot, the police are called in and shoot tear gas.

When the reds riot the army is called in and shoot machine guns.

Civil war right around the corner folks.

They don't allow yellow shirts to protest; only red shirts (thanks to the police as well).

I attended a yellow shirt riot. Yes it happens. They are nasty too.

They took over and ransacked Gov House, occupied an intersection in town for months and forced the airport to shutdown.

They they spears, baseball bats, machetes, slingshots, ping pong bombs, car bombs, black shirts & guns.

One of them even ran over a policeman...then backed over him again.

The Colonel that was head of yellow security even accidently blew himself up with a car bomb. The Nation didn't cover that?

Wonder where that bomb was heading?

When they shot a bunch of police, the Chula Hospital (yellow shirt hospital) wouldn't treat the wounded.

In the Wikileaks info (that you wont see published in Thailand,) the yellow leadership instigated violence on purpose, hoping to get at least a dozen killed to prompt the coup. At least that was the info the US Ambassador had.

Eventually they got their coup after the airport takeover.

The airport takeover cost 280 billion alone according to the bank of thailand. Not mentioned in The Nation.

In wikileaks you also find info on Thaksin's antics, no news there. the costs of the 2009 Songkhran fun and 2010 red hot summer are also in the multi digit area. Of course that's nothing as long as we can get someone amnestied and have all Thai reconciled by government order.

BTW the airport take-over was in 2008, the coup in 2006.

[Stradavarius37]

Same sh%t, different day

[MAJIC]

I imagine a scene where the amnesty bill is passed, and Yingluk comes out onto the parliament house balcony to announce to the waiting masses that their deepest wish is fulfilled and they are now "reconciled".

Of course it is fantasy as she will most likely be in S. America, or possibly a flying visit to Antarctica trying to sell rice to penguins.

Amnesty bill passed! see your Doctor mate,Nightmares like that should be treated.

[MAJIC]

Sounds familiar

No . . . not familiar . . . the Police were suspiciously absent/lethargic back in 2010. It was mostly left to the Army to come in and try to sort the problems that could have been nipped in the bud long before if the Police had done their job properly back then.

When the yellows riot, the police are called in and shoot tear gas.

When the reds riot the army is called in and shoot machine guns.

Civil war right around the corner folks.

You forgot when the Red Shirts Rioted,the Police called in to handle the Reds did nothing,so the Government had to call in the Army,

You forgot the Red Shirts were illegal Terrorists.

You forgot the Red Shirts returned Army Fire,even though they had weeks and weeks of warning to disband and go home.

You forgot the man from Dubai paid for this attempt to overthrow the Country,by paying the Redshirts,a wage they could never have earned on the land.

Not only have you forgot everything,I doubt you knew anything in the first place!

[MAJIC]

From this evening's news posting on the Nation's website: "Security at Parliament and Government House beefed up Monday as a precaution against protesters once the controversial amnesty bill is tabled next Wednesday.

Concrete barriers were placed at all entrances and exits of Government House in a move to keep out the Pitak Siam group, which is expected to show up on Sunday morning.

One police truck was also seen parked nearby along with a vehicle armed with a long-range acoustic device emitting ear-splitting sirens. Two police tents were also set up and a photograph of the group's leader was posted on a metal barricade near one of the tents. However, police say it is not a "wanted" poster.

Deputy House Speaker Wisut Chainarun said 700 police officers would initially deployed near Parliament on the days the controversial bill is deliberated. Also, all cars and bags entering the compound would be closely searched.

Suwichag Nakwatchrachai, Parliament secretary general, said 10 members of staff would be on standby in two shifts to escort out those who refuse to follow the House rule.

Separately, a red-shirt group - calling themselves People's Radio for the People Group - set up camp outside the Parliament complex yesterday in order to "protect" lawmakers from anti-government protesters.

The group set up a large tent and billboards carrying messages supporting the government's decision to deliberate amnesty bills. There were no police officers present at the site as of press time.

Meanwhile, Deputy House Speaker Charoen Jankomol confirmed that the amnesty bill proposed by Pheu Thai MP Worachai Hema will be considered next Wednesday."

It will come as no surprise to anyone that the red shirts will probably be allowed into an otherwise closed off area close to Parliament to protect Parliament from anti-amnesty demonstrators. Amazing Thailand!

Perhaps Thailand should shelve that slogan,there's nothing amazing about a bunch of thugs that ran riot and held a Country to a bloody Ramsom,closed down the Capital for weeks and tried to burn it down. Were part of a paid for exercise in paid for Terrorism now it's a case of whitewash us all (especially Thaksin) ,with an Amnesty,because like children often claim when caught out: it wasn't me,I didn't do anything.... Outrageously Pathetic!

[nicknostitz]

Please remind me again, how many people outside the protester's ranks were killed? How many grenades were thrown/fired, how many were observed carrying military rifles, and how many buildings did they burn down?

BTW Protesters were taken to Chula, police were taken to the nearby police hospital, so there would not be conflict inside hospitals. Unlike.........

Thanks for asking...

During the October 7 clashes 3 police officers were shot and injured by PAD guards (one PAD guard firing a gun at police was captured on video).

On October 30, 2008, one man was shot dead by PAD guards.

On November 1, 2008, PAD guards shot an injured the driver of a car of 5 young people who went out in Banglampoo, and made a wrong turn and came close to a PAD barricade.

On November 24, 2008, six PAD guards entered city bus number 53, forced the passengers out at gunpoint, and the driver to drive the bus towards their barricades. The bus was stopped by police officers of Nang Loern police station shooting the tires, and the guards were arrested. They carried a home made shotgun and ping pong bombs. As far as i can remember they were sentenced to two years in prison.

On November 25, a Naclop Srivichai from the PAD was arrested by Din Daeng police with an Uzi, part of a batch of Uzi's, M16's and handguns stolen by PAD guards from the Special Branch station in the first night of the takeover of government house (this was the only weapon of the haul that the state managed to get back).

The part of government house that was off limits to us reporters during the occupation and which housed guards and Naclop Srivichai was completely ransacked when handed back to the authorities, state owned items and personal items of government officials were looted. In the following days and weeks security forces found large caches of explosives and defused many booby traps.

etc...

...just to remind you.

[OzMick]

Please remind me again, how many people outside the protester's ranks were killed? How many grenades were thrown/fired, how many were observed carrying military rifles, and how many buildings did they burn down?

BTW Protesters were taken to Chula, police were taken to the nearby police hospital, so there would not be conflict inside hospitals. Unlike.........

Thanks for asking...

During the October 7 clashes 3 police officers were shot and injured by PAD guards (one PAD guard firing a gun at police was captured on video).

On October 30, 2008, one man was shot dead by PAD guards.

On November 1, 2008, PAD guards shot an injured the driver of a car of 5 young people who went out in Banglampoo, and made a wrong turn and came close to a PAD barricade.

On November 24, 2008, six PAD guards entered city bus number 53, forced the passengers out at gunpoint, and the driver to drive the bus towards their barricades. The bus was stopped by police officers of Nang Loern police station shooting the tires, and the guards were arrested. They carried a home made shotgun and ping pong bombs. As far as i can remember they were sentenced to two years in prison.

On November 25, a Naclop Srivichai from the PAD was arrested by Din Daeng police with an Uzi, part of a batch of Uzi's, M16's and handguns stolen by PAD guards from the Special Branch station in the first night of the takeover of government house (this was the only weapon of the haul that the state managed to get back).

The part of government house that was off limits to us reporters during the occupation and which housed guards and Naclop Srivichai was completely ransacked when handed back to the authorities, state owned items and personal items of government officials were looted. In the following days and weeks security forces found large caches of explosives and defused many booby traps.

etc...

...just to remind you.

Great - now how about a summary of the red violence of 2009/2010?

[DiNiro]

Please remind me again, how many people outside the protester's ranks were killed? How many grenades were thrown/fired, how many were observed carrying military rifles, and how many buildings did they burn down?

BTW Protesters were taken to Chula, police were taken to the nearby police hospital, so there would not be conflict inside hospitals. Unlike.........

Thanks for asking...

During the October 7 clashes 3 police officers were shot and injured by PAD guards (one PAD guard firing a gun at police was captured on video).

On October 30, 2008, one man was shot dead by PAD guards.

On November 1, 2008, PAD guards shot an injured the driver of a car of 5 young people who went out in Banglampoo, and made a wrong turn and came close to a PAD barricade.

On November 24, 2008, six PAD guards entered city bus number 53, forced the passengers out at gunpoint, and the driver to drive the bus towards their barricades. The bus was stopped by police officers of Nang Loern police station shooting the tires, and the guards were arrested. They carried a home made shotgun and ping pong bombs. As far as i can remember they were sentenced to two years in prison.

On November 25, a Naclop Srivichai from the PAD was arrested by Din Daeng police with an Uzi, part of a batch of Uzi's, M16's and handguns stolen by PAD guards from the Special Branch station in the first night of the takeover of government house (this was the only weapon of the haul that the state managed to get back).

The part of government house that was off limits to us reporters during the occupation and which housed guards and Naclop Srivichai was completely ransacked when handed back to the authorities, state owned items and personal items of government officials were looted. In the following days and weeks security forces found large caches of explosives and defused many booby traps.

etc...

...just to remind you.

Setting up a protest in the shopping district is much worse.

[Robby nz]

And we still have the stupidity of red supporters calling everything that does not support the reds or the govt yellow.

Cant you get it through your thick heads that yellow has been dead for many years.

Where are all the yellow shirts at any of the anti Govt or Democrats rallies now?

Oh you go to a rally and someone will no doubt be wearing yellow but then you walk down any street and you will see the same, it is just what they happen to be wearing and not a political statement

Someone said they went to a yellow rally but forgot to mention it was in 2006 or 7.

Those who are coming out against this Govt now are doing so for valid reasons and if their reasons differ from one lot to the next, so what, this Govt has made a lot of people very unhappy for a variety of reasons and is well on the way to completely stuffing up the country.

With all the preparations being made and the millions it must be costing if some protesters do turn up then no matter how peaceful and quiet they are the cops, reds or someone else paid to do so will have to start trouble to try to justify the preparation and expense.

As in "See we told you so we knew there would be violence"

All that the preparations are doing is showing that the Govt is scared of what the people can do and that they know that there is major opposition to their amnesty bills which at one time were called reconciliation, but now that pretense has been dropped, although they still insist that it has nothing to do with getting their hero, paymaster and real PM back free.

Should the bill be passed along with the funding bills then that pretense will go also.

You reds can never get past statements like : Thaksin thinks PT acts" and "Democracy is not my aim"

[DiNiro]

Yellows are dead?

Yellow is code word for the invisible hand and supporters. Wealthy Thais and army generals that have pillaged the country for decades.

Unfortunately for them, they are a minority.

Why don't they just field a candidate and honer the outcome of the election I wonder?

[hellodolly]

Sounds familiar

No . . . not familiar . . . the Police were suspiciously absent/lethargic back in 2010. It was mostly left to the Army to come in and try to sort the problems that could have been nipped in the bud long before if the Police had done their job properly back then.

I assume dear Waza was referring to the 50,000 police officers on high alert last October (November?) when Pitak Siam planned a rally. Also lots of 'speedtraps', zigzag routes enforced, razorblade wire and of course at the first hint of troubles teargas.

Yes, I remember, but the point is that the Police (under the current Red Govt) are actually doing their jobs now . . . however they refused to do so back in 2010 under the previous Govt which allowed the protests to get way out of hand (which was the whole point of course).

Tell that to the democrats when their rallies have things thrown at them and vociferous opposition from the red shirts such as happened in Yaiothon. That is under the more Thaksin controlled Police department we have today.

What did they do to protect the people who they let in to the Pitak Siam rally a few months ago. Was it their job to keep the people out and use razor blade wire to hold them out. Can't say as I saw any of that at red shirt rallies there they directed traffic and helped out with parking not even 1 meter of razor wire.

You are absolutely sure fire 100% right they are not the police department of 2010. That police department hid from them the current one with the loving guidance of the present government protects them.

[hellodolly]

Please remind me again, how many people outside the protester's ranks were killed? How many grenades were thrown/fired, how many were observed carrying military rifles, and how many buildings did they burn down?

BTW Protesters were taken to Chula, police were taken to the nearby police hospital, so there would not be conflict inside hospitals. Unlike.........

Thanks for asking...

During the October 7 clashes 3 police officers were shot and injured by PAD guards (one PAD guard firing a gun at police was captured on video).

On October 30, 2008, one man was shot dead by PAD guards.

On November 1, 2008, PAD guards shot an injured the driver of a car of 5 young people who went out in Banglampoo, and made a wrong turn and came close to a PAD barricade.

On November 24, 2008, six PAD guards entered city bus number 53, forced the passengers out at gunpoint, and the driver to drive the bus towards their barricades. The bus was stopped by police officers of Nang Loern police station shooting the tires, and the guards were arrested. They carried a home made shotgun and ping pong bombs. As far as i can remember they were sentenced to two years in prison.

On November 25, a Naclop Srivichai from the PAD was arrested by Din Daeng police with an Uzi, part of a batch of Uzi's, M16's and handguns stolen by PAD guards from the Special Branch station in the first night of the takeover of government house (this was the only weapon of the haul that the state managed to get back).

The part of government house that was off limits to us reporters during the occupation and which housed guards and Naclop Srivichai was completely ransacked when handed back to the authorities, state owned items and personal items of government officials were looted. In the following days and weeks security forces found large caches of explosives and defused many booby traps.

etc...

...just to remind you.

So the answer to the question was 1 dead and 1 carrying an uzi and no buildings burned down.

You mentioned us reporters.

From your post I would take it you are a reporter for the Nation.

Your answer was down to their low standards.

[hellodolly]

Please remind me again, how many people outside the protester's ranks were killed? How many grenades were thrown/fired, how many were observed carrying military rifles, and how many buildings did they burn down?

BTW Protesters were taken to Chula, police were taken to the nearby police hospital, so there would not be conflict inside hospitals. Unlike.........

Thanks for asking...

During the October 7 clashes 3 police officers were shot and injured by PAD guards (one PAD guard firing a gun at police was captured on video).

On October 30, 2008, one man was shot dead by PAD guards.

On November 1, 2008, PAD guards shot an injured the driver of a car of 5 young people who went out in Banglampoo, and made a wrong turn and came close to a PAD barricade.

On November 24, 2008, six PAD guards entered city bus number 53, forced the passengers out at gunpoint, and the driver to drive the bus towards their barricades. The bus was stopped by police officers of Nang Loern police station shooting the tires, and the guards were arrested. They carried a home made shotgun and ping pong bombs. As far as i can remember they were sentenced to two years in prison.

On November 25, a Naclop Srivichai from the PAD was arrested by Din Daeng police with an Uzi, part of a batch of Uzi's, M16's and handguns stolen by PAD guards from the Special Branch station in the first night of the takeover of government house (this was the only weapon of the haul that the state managed to get back).

The part of government house that was off limits to us reporters during the occupation and which housed guards and Naclop Srivichai was completely ransacked when handed back to the authorities, state owned items and personal items of government officials were looted. In the following days and weeks security forces found large caches of explosives and defused many booby traps.

etc...

...just to remind you.

Great - now how about a summary of the red violence of 2009/2010?

Well that would be interesting if he throws in as much information as he did for the yellow shirts.

I believe the yellow shirts were despicable in their actions but when the red shirts came along they looked like saints in comparison. Going to be a interesting fact filled read.

After all he is a reporter and that is what they are supposed to do.

[DiNiro]

Good or bad, there is no denying Thaksin has the support of the majority of Thais.

[hellodolly]

And we still have the stupidity of red supporters calling everything that does not support the reds or the govt yellow.

Cant you get it through your thick heads that yellow has been dead for many years.

Where are all the yellow shirts at any of the anti Govt or Democrats rallies now?

Oh you go to a rally and someone will no doubt be wearing yellow but then you walk down any street and you will see the same, it is just what they happen to be wearing and not a political statement

Someone said they went to a yellow rally but forgot to mention it was in 2006 or 7.

Those who are coming out against this Govt now are doing so for valid reasons and if their reasons differ from one lot to the next, so what, this Govt has made a lot of people very unhappy for a variety of reasons and is well on the way to completely stuffing up the country.

With all the preparations being made and the millions it must be costing if some protesters do turn up then no matter how peaceful and quiet they are the cops, reds or someone else paid to do so will have to start trouble to try to justify the preparation and expense.

As in "See we told you so we knew there would be violence"

All that the preparations are doing is showing that the Govt is scared of what the people can do and that they know that there is major opposition to their amnesty bills which at one time were called reconciliation, but now that pretense has been dropped, although they still insist that it has nothing to do with getting their hero, paymaster and real PM back free.

Should the bill be passed along with the funding bills then that pretense will go also.

You reds can never get past statements like : Thaksin thinks PT acts" and "Democracy is not my aim"

Not sure I can agree the yellows are dead yet. If they had not been together and refused to vote in the last election we would have a much better government. So even though they do not demonstrate they do have authority and the PTP is doing nothing to placate them.

[AleG]

Yellows are dead?

Yellow is code word for the invisible hand and supporters. Wealthy Thais and army generals that have pillaged the country for decades.

Unfortunately for them, they are a minority.

Why don't they just field a candidate and honer the outcome of the election I wonder?

How about PTP honor the outcome of the last election by not having an unelected criminal dictating policy?

[DiNiro]

Yellows are dead?

Yellow is code word for the invisible hand and supporters. Wealthy Thais and army generals that have pillaged the country for decades.

Unfortunately for them, they are a minority.

Why don't they just field a candidate and honer the outcome of the election I wonder?

How about PTP honor the outcome of the last election by not having an unelected criminal dictating policy?

Yingluk is the PM. Does it matter who she consults?

That's the beauty of a democracy.

The people can decide at the next election if they are pleased.

[waza]

Good or bad, there is no denying Thaksin has the support of the majority of Thais.

I would dispute that and would cite the losses of all by elections, bar 1, by the PTP, since the last general election, as proof.

Edited July 31, 2013 by waza

[jayboy]

Good or bad, there is no denying Thaksin has the support of the majority of Thais.

I would dispute that and would cite the losses of all by elections, bar 1, by the PTP, since the last general election, as proof.

In that case you would dispute every opinion poll for the last two years which show the PTP as the most popular party, though having a decline in margin in the last six months - but still several points ahead of the Democrats.

The acid test is of course another general election which significantly the Democtats are anxious isn't held any time soon.

[Sunderland]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NStz9_oe2yE

Perhaps the police will be more prepared for violence than at the recent Sukhothai v Phitsanulok football match.

[jayboy]

Good or bad, there is no denying Thaksin has the support of the majority of Thais.

Can you supply any evidence that a majority of Thais support Thaksin?

Maybe you suggesting that some Thaksin supporters didn't vote for PTP at the last election and that all of those that did vote PTP do support Thaksin.

Sent from my HTC Desire HD A9191 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

There can be a reasonable debate whether a majority of Thais support Thaksin.There is never any "evidence" apart from opinion polls which are obviously not completely accurate.I have never actually seen an opinion poll pose that particular question anyway.

But some points cannot be denied

1.He is the most popular politician in the country albeit a very divisive one.

2.Parties very closely associated with him have consistently won national general elections in recent years.

3.The vast majority of PTP voters are supporters of Thaksin.

4.The success of Thaksin and the PTP did not arise from vote buying, regional power broking, an ignorant electorate but rather the failure of the existing political establishment to address the aspirations of the Thai majority.

5.The fall of governments associated with THaksin has not been because the THai people wished it but rather through army intervention and latterly a highly politicised network of judges.

As noted there can be a reasonable discussion of whether a majority support Thaksin.The reality is however that democracies tend to be pretty much divided down the middle (eg US, UK, France, Japan,Germany etc) and landslide results tend to be found in totalitarian regimes.

It's a question of playing by the electoral rules.But as in the US where embittered reactionaries even now question Obama's mandate, there are those on this forum who mutter about the Thai government not having a majority.It was ever thus.

[whybother]

Good or bad, there is no denying Thaksin has the support of the majority of Thais.

Can you supply any evidence that a majority of Thais support Thaksin?

Maybe you suggesting that some Thaksin supporters didn't vote for PTP at the last election and that all of those that did vote PTP do support Thaksin.

Sent from my HTC Desire HD A9191 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

There can be a reasonable debate whether a majority of Thais support Thaksin.There is never any "evidence" apart from opinion polls which are obviously not completely accurate.I have never actually seen an opinion poll pose that particular question anyway.

But some points cannot be denied

1.He is the most popular politician in the country albeit a very divisive one.

2.Parties very closely associated with him have consistently won national general elections in recent years.

3.The vast majority of PTP voters are supporters of Thaksin.

4.The success of Thaksin and the PTP did not arise from vote buying, regional power broking, an ignorant electorate but rather the failure of the existing political establishment to address the aspirations of the Thai majority.

5.The fall of governments associated with THaksin has not been because the THai people wished it but rather through army intervention and latterly a highly politicised network of judges.

As noted there can be a reasonable discussion of whether a majority support Thaksin.The reality is however that democracies tend to be pretty much divided down the middle (eg US, UK, France, Japan,Germany etc) and landslide results tend to be found in totalitarian regimes.

It's a question of playing by the electoral rules.But as in the US where embittered reactionaries even now question Obama's mandate, there are those on this forum who mutter about the Thai government not having a majority.It was ever thus.

1. He is the most unpopular politician in the country.

2. He has "won" elections because the people who don't want him don't all vote for the same party.

3. That would definitely imply that the original statement by DiNiro is not true.

4. <deleted>? Ofcourse Thaksin's success arose from regional power broking. Why else would regional parties have merged into TRT?

5. Like the politicised judges that let Thaksin off his assets charges?

I didn't say anything about the government having a majority. I was questioning the statement that the majority of Thais support Thaksin. The evidence doesn't point to that.

[jayboy]

There can be a reasonable debate whether a majority of Thais support Thaksin.There is never any "evidence" apart from opinion polls which are obviously not completely accurate.I have never actually seen an opinion poll pose that particular question anyway.

But some points cannot be denied

1.He is the most popular politician in the country albeit a very divisive one.

2.Parties very closely associated with him have consistently won national general elections in recent years.

3.The vast majority of PTP voters are supporters of Thaksin.

4.The success of Thaksin and the PTP did not arise from vote buying, regional power broking, an ignorant electorate but rather the failure of the existing political establishment to address the aspirations of the Thai majority.

5.The fall of governments associated with THaksin has not been because the THai people wished it but rather through army intervention and latterly a highly politicised network of judges.

As noted there can be a reasonable discussion of whether a majority support Thaksin.The reality is however that democracies tend to be pretty much divided down the middle (eg US, UK, France, Japan,Germany etc) and landslide results tend to be found in totalitarian regimes.

It's a question of playing by the electoral rules.But as in the US where embittered reactionaries even now question Obama's mandate, there are those on this forum who mutter about the Thai government not having a majority.It was ever thus.

1. He is the most unpopular politician in the country.

2. He has "won" elections because the people who don't want him don't all vote for the same party.

3. That would definitely imply that the original statement by DiNiro is not true.

4. <deleted>? Ofcourse Thaksin's success arose from regional power broking. Why else would regional parties have merged into TRT?

5. Like the politicised judges that let Thaksin off his assets charges?

I didn't say anything about the government having a majority. I was questioning the statement that the majority of Thais support Thaksin. The evidence doesn't point to that.

1.Yes, that's probably true.I said he was very divisive.Seems odd but he manages to be the most popular and the most unpopular.Not unusual - Obama fits that category too.

2.Er, yes.That's true with almost every election in every parliamentary democracy.

3.How many angels can fit on the head of a pin? Can argue forever over what can't be proved.Anyway I speak only for myself.

4.I didn't say anything about the background to Thaksin's political success.All parties have regional networks and the Demoicrats a particularly murky one in the South.I was simply pointing out that when the Thai people had to choose they chose Thaksin or his representatives.

5.Silly response.The judicial system in Thailand has always been biased towards the government in power, though not noticeably now.However it's a completely different matter to the old establishment's systemised judicial intervention (as a less tainted alternative to military coups).

There is no evidence that the majority of Thais don't support Thaksin either.The evidence doesn't in fact point anywhere other than the country is deeply divided.

[jayboy]

There can be a reasonable debate whether a majority of Thais support Thaksin.There is never any "evidence" apart from opinion polls which are obviously not completely accurate.I have never actually seen an opinion poll pose that particular question anyway.

But some points cannot be denied

1.He is the most popular politician in the country albeit a very divisive one.

2.Parties very closely associated with him have consistently won national general elections in recent years.

3.The vast majority of PTP voters are supporters of Thaksin.

4.The success of Thaksin and the PTP did not arise from vote buying, regional power broking, an ignorant electorate but rather the failure of the existing political establishment to address the aspirations of the Thai majority.

5.The fall of governments associated with THaksin has not been because the THai people wished it but rather through army intervention and latterly a highly politicised network of judges.

As noted there can be a reasonable discussion of whether a majority support Thaksin.The reality is however that democracies tend to be pretty much divided down the middle (eg US, UK, France, Japan,Germany etc) and landslide results tend to be found in totalitarian regimes.

It's a question of playing by the electoral rules.But as in the US where embittered reactionaries even now question Obama's mandate, there are those on this forum who mutter about the Thai government not having a majority.It was ever thus.

1. He is the most unpopular politician in the country.

2. He has "won" elections because the people who don't want him don't all vote for the same party.

3. That would definitely imply that the original statement by DiNiro is not true.

4. <deleted>? Ofcourse Thaksin's success arose from regional power broking. Why else would regional parties have merged into TRT?

5. Like the politicised judges that let Thaksin off his assets charges?

I didn't say anything about the government having a majority. I was questioning the statement that the majority of Thais support Thaksin. The evidence doesn't point to that.

1.Yes, that's probably true.I said he was very divisive.Seems odd but he manages to be the most popular and the most unpopular.Not unusual - Obama fits that category too.

2.Er, yes.That's true with almost every election in every parliamentary democracy.

3.How many angels can fit on the head of a pin? Can argue forever over what can't be proved.Anyway I speak only for myself.

4.I didn't say anything about the background to Thaksin's political success.All parties have regional networks and the Demoicrats a particularly murky one in the South.I was simply pointing out that when the Thai people had to choose they chose Thaksin or his representatives.

5.Silly response.The judicial system in Thailand has always been biased towards the government in power, though not noticeably now.However it's a completely different matter to the old establishment's systemised judicial intervention (as a less tainted alternative to military coups).

There is no evidence that the majority of Thais don't support Thaksin either.The evidence doesn't in fact point anywhere other than the country is deeply divided.

[h90]

Yellows are dead?

Yellow is code word for the invisible hand and supporters. Wealthy Thais and army generals that have pillaged the country for decades.

Unfortunately for them, they are a minority.

Why don't they just field a candidate and honer the outcome of the election I wonder?

How about PTP honor the outcome of the last election by not having an unelected criminal dictating policy?

Yingluk is the PM. Does it matter who she consults?

That's the beauty of a democracy.

The people can decide at the next election if they are pleased.

Unfortunately aren't any free elections in Thailand. At all the elections were massive vote buying. Which is of course not democratic