Thai amnesty bill uncertainty poses problems for Democrats

[webfact]

Bill uncertainty poses problems for Democrats
Hataikarn Treesuwan
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Leaders of the Democrat protests fear a conflict in their ranks if the government appears to withdraw its support for the blanket amnesty bill.

Sources referred to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's announcement on stated-owned television that the government would accept the Senate's decision on the bill.

One source said the demonstrators not only aimed to defeat the amnesty bill, but also to bring down the government. If the Democrats called off their rally when the bill was killed, they would face some serious issues with their supporters.

He said this was a key reason Democrat MP Suthep Thaugsuban decided to move the protest rally site from Samsen Railway Station to Democracy Monument on Monday.

"Actually, we had long planned to gather at Democracy Monument but not yesterday. While we took a break at Thammasat University, several protesters said they would not return to Samsen. If the leaders wanted to go back, they would go a separate way.

"Suthep met and spoke with key Democrats immediately. Then they made the decision to occupy Rajdamnoen Avenue," the source, who is a close aide to Suthep, said.

He said Democrat MPs who had called rallies at city halls in the provinces had received complaints from their voters. They said that if the Democrat party only wanted to pressure the Senate to kill the bill, they should save their voices and go home to sleep. It was normal that a minority could not win.

He said Democrat supporters failed in the last rally when their leaders, including Abhisit Vejjajiva, Chuan Leekpai and Suthep, led them from the Urupong intersection to Parliament to protest against the amnesty bill in August. That protest came to nothing.

"In this case, Khun Chuan [Leekpai] did not agree with everything. He kept a close eye on the rally and warned leaders saying, for example, 'please don’t allow speakers to be profane in speeches on the stage.'

"He was concerned the party might be dissolved if some members acted illegally. [As a result] Abhisit would not speak at the Rajdamnoen rally," the source said.


-- The Nation 2013-11-06

[whybother]

Where is the problem? They are protesting against the amnesty bill. When the amnesty bill is dead (or at least delayed for 6 months), they stop protesting.

"They said that if the Democrat party only wanted to pressure the Senate to kill the bill, they should save their voices and go home to sleep. It was normal that a minority could not win." With a pathetic attitude like that, I am surprised these "some voters" are even there.

[Halion]

From this article it is clear that the Thai mentality of "Simple thing make difficult and difficult thing don't do" is coming to the fore. There is a significant resistance in this country to the concept of taking small steps and doing the hard yards. Change is never an easy option and if the public really want to see genuine improvements in the running of their country they are going to have to improve their resolve. Rome was not built in a day.

[h90]

Where is the problem? They are protesting against the amnesty bill. When the amnesty bill is dead (or at least delayed for 6 months), they stop protesting.

"They said that if the Democrat party only wanted to pressure the Senate to kill the bill, they should save their voices and go home to sleep. It was normal that a minority could not win." With a pathetic attitude like that, I am surprised these "some voters" are even there.

The problem is that the protesters want to see the protectors of Thailand in it. A movement to oust the government.

If the amnesty bill is delayed 6 month and the Democrats go home many protesters are very angry.

[whybother]

Where is the problem? They are protesting against the amnesty bill. When the amnesty bill is dead (or at least delayed for 6 months), they stop protesting.

"They said that if the Democrat party only wanted to pressure the Senate to kill the bill, they should save their voices and go home to sleep. It was normal that a minority could not win." With a pathetic attitude like that, I am surprised these "some voters" are even there.

The problem is that the protesters want to see the protectors of Thailand in it. A movement to oust the government.

If the amnesty bill is delayed 6 month and the Democrats go home many protesters are very angry.

Getting rid of the government through protest won't solve any problems. And the Democrats being involved in ongoing protests over a general "get rid of the government" won't win them any friends in the middle ground. It's the middle ground that will get the Democrats elected (eventually). The fringe groups that want a coup are the ones that will vote "None" at the next election because of some other weird issue.

[jcb2001]

It's time for the Dems to go for the jugular. Pheu Thai are on their knees. I believe they were shocked at this resistance and are now lost as to what to do, although Thaksin has many backup plans. So be forewarned, it will not be an easy battle as Thaksin has vowed he will never lose. Keep up the good fight! Don't back off or Thaksin and group will get a fresh breath of air with a new plan to ruin Thailand as we know it.

[h90]

Where is the problem? They are protesting against the amnesty bill. When the amnesty bill is dead (or at least delayed for 6 months), they stop protesting.

"They said that if the Democrat party only wanted to pressure the Senate to kill the bill, they should save their voices and go home to sleep. It was normal that a minority could not win." With a pathetic attitude like that, I am surprised these "some voters" are even there.

The problem is that the protesters want to see the protectors of Thailand in it. A movement to oust the government.

If the amnesty bill is delayed 6 month and the Democrats go home many protesters are very angry.

Getting rid of the government through protest won't solve any problems. And the Democrats being involved in ongoing protests over a general "get rid of the government" won't win them any friends in the middle ground. It's the middle ground that will get the Democrats elected (eventually). The fringe groups that want a coup are the ones that will vote "None" at the next election because of some other weird issue.

And you hear the mob shouting Au pai, Au pai?

When you look at the amount of people, considering that the are fluctuating, that some can't come (far away, sick, working) and that they influence relatives we speak hear about several 100.000 up to a million people.

So if the Democrats do something crazy they loose the moderate ones, as you said. If they just go home, they disappoint another big group.

Maybe the problem isn't as big as I think....but it is a problem.