Police seek warrant to arrest protest leader Suthep

[mikebell]

According to plan. If the police (tries to) arrests him, hell will break loose.

They'll do it when he's at home with just his family about, if they had any sense...oh wait.

[edwardandtubs]

How exactly does a man perform verbal stimulation?

[Thai at Heart]

Court approves arrest warrant against Suthep for Finance Ministry intrusion

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court Tuesday approved a warrant for arrest of protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban.

Suthep was charged with violating Article 215 and 365 of the Penal Code by leading more two persons to intrude into the compound of the Finance Ministry on Monday.

-- The Nation 2013-11-26

Does anyone have that law to hand. It is illegal to ask 2 people to intrude into a government compound? How about 1?

What is the charge? Trespass on public property? My lord, how on earth does every single food vendor in the country reconcile that one?

here you go - seems the second charge is trespass but of the aggravated kind

Under this law, conspiring to help anyone illegally gets punished. So how come all of these politicians get away with everything. Why is it apparenlty legal to aid and abet a family member in illegality?

I get a feeling that half the police and prosecutors don't know half the laws on the books and if they did they would have dumped so much crap on top of the organisers of these public protestors no one would do it again. Thailand has a law for everything and no one to enforce it.

[khunken]

There should have been not one moment's hesitation in issuing a warrant for this man's immediate arrest. Give some people a microphone, a mob, and a platform and they get all carried away with themselves.

Book him.

I'm afraid you're falling over yourself with hypocrisy again Frank. Now if only the police had done this in 2010........

[Captain Jack]

It now seems clear that Suthep and his followers now don't intend to respect the law. "When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty". To be honest that seems fair enough. The problem is that this is a very dangerous direction to take. Where does it stop? Which laws should be enforced and which should not? Who decides? This is the point where the promised reconcilliation becomes absolutley essential. And yet what does Yingluk do? She issues a warrant for the arrest of the protest leader, therefore guaranteeing that reconcilliation can not happen.

To me this action seems clear grounds for a vote of no confidence in the sitting government. Is there even such a process for that in Thailand? Does anyone know?

If the worst should happen and there were to be a military cooe (just hypothetically) then who can we expect the army to support? Anyone have any thaughts? It seems clear that the Police will support the current government? Or are they just trying to appear impartial and to support the law as it stands?

Lets hope this can be settled peacefully and without the international humiliation that this country historically sufferes whenever protest take place.

Edited November 26, 2013 by Captain Jack

[Thainy Tim]

All you Thaksinistas on here saying that he should arrested immediately have to go and finish your education.

It is almost as though you want to see this devolve into a repeat of 2010 while you lick your lips and the prospect of a nice large body count, hopefully upstaging the red count.

Then you can have your red celebrations in the background, while periodically returning to your keyboards to type out how distressed you are at what is happening.

So let them come and arrest him, then you can get what you want.

But I warn you.... Once this is all over and the bodies are counted and the government are out of power. Suthep will walk free looking the most innocent.

Be very very careful of what you wish for.

Edited November 26, 2013 by Thainy Tim

[JRSoul]

If he did what he is accused of then let justice prevail.

What a strange sentiment from an amnesty supporter!

[MK1]

Put simply, now this has occured, guess whats gunna hit the fan?

[pisico]

So he should be. He isn't thinking about his fellow people and how many of them will be out of work and in poverty when the country goes down the 'gurgler' Watching Aljazeer and it became apparent that this country is a laughing stock amongst reporters and around the world. The say they have democracy becaus ethey have a vote. But then the party who looses throws the otehr out of Govt. Thais do not have the understanding of true democracy as Westerners know it. Most are brainwashed.

The arrest warrant is a message to him to stop or else, appear in court by December 12. Ultimatum Thai style to give him the possibility of saving face.

Since 1999 Suthep has been flirting with the boundaries of law while in different positions of government. He is a crafty fellow and knows that Thais, traditionally, have been prone to autocracy. Since they are intellectually lazy, it is easy to accept the designs and whims coming from only one government figure without pondering or debating them. Check out Pibunsongkhram and his antics that were adopted by all in the country with alacrity. From changing the centuries old name of the country, Siam, to donning Western style clothing instead of the sarong-like attire and bare chest by men and women. He is the one responsible for the cult of personality becoming the first iconic figure himself. Democracy is decried as un-Thai by many. Even young Thais have expressed in my presence me their doubts about Democracy. It is no wonder in a country ruled by feudal institutions in which senators can be appointed to the Senate that Democracy, Western style, is in tatters in Thailand. What Suthep is doing now is a repeat of his very same strategy (when he was accused and proven to give deeds of property to squatters, some of very rich families) he then forced the government to be dissolved with a similar protest. Later, when Minister of Agriculture, he resigned the Ministry lest to be prosecuted for having vested interests and investments in companies that had received contracts and were doing business with the government and in violation of the Constitution. I am no fan of Thaksin but, if I were a rank and file anti-thaksinista I would think thrice before supporting a dubious character such as Suthep.

Edited November 26, 2013 by pisico

[SOTIRIOS]

..too predictable....that's what happens when tyrants run a country....

...they will stop at nothing....never admit their errors.....never accept defeat.....

...but slander....trumped up charges.....or worse....are THEIR order of the day......

...hopefully the Thai people will not stand for another blow to democracy by targeting strong leaders against corruption...

[DonaldBattles]

After watching the same kind of nonsense for 30 years in Thailand the story like this is always the same. We need to arrest those that try to throw us out of office. Until Taksin decides to give up his fight of destroying the country there will never e peace.

[Calimotty]

RT @tulsathit: Criminal court has approved warrant for Suthep arrest. via @jin_nation

Well, we can now wait for the moment when the BIB try to put handcuffs on the guy. Should get interesting to say the least.

The question should be, who dare to walk into the crowd and drag him out. I'm certain that wouldn't be a nice affairs don't you think?

Don't bet on it ! The man in the middle hasn't played any cards yet?

[CIHUAHUA]

I sounds like "sniper" time again. What a shame for democracy.

[millwall_fan]

Yes, arrest that idiot.

And the Idiots on this forum that have supported the scum bag.

Uhm... You think they should do that too?

Uuuuhm... Maybe the posters on this forum, and all those naive people who supported this new round of silly and destructive protests were not that bad.

Even if they still supported the protests once these were "upgraded" to overthrow nearly everything and everyone not agreeing with the Dems.

Probably they were just too naive to imagine that it would escalate and did not see that these protests were in no way bringing any solution and peace to the country. Maybe they were just writing the wrong things out of frustration in their own lives. Some have a difficult time in Thailand you know? It's a great difficulty for them to understand what is really happening around them when relying only on very biased English news sources (or a wife that they also can't understand). Some don't even actually live in Thailand but have difficult times and frustrations at home and discharge their anger on forums. Maybe some were just ranting out of jealousy. Many have a tendency to quickly hate people with money and power, like most politicians here. A lot have a tendency to simply hate a billionaire family, like the PM's family, only because they themselves never achieved anything much in their lives. Maybe a few were just drunk (again) while writing, or maybe drank a brand that was really too cheap that time. Maybe they felt better to write some bad things about the government because they saw that it is more "trendy" to write such things on this forum. Maybe they associate the Dems and the yellows to an upper class in the society to which they would like so much to be identified. Maybe they just like to look down at the lower middle class and the government which the people of Thailand democratically elected because they consider themselves as "educated" and so much above that "lower" class (now that they earn 29.000b from their new teaching job).

So, you see, you should forgive these scum bags (to use your own words) for what they did. They have their own reasons to support an man as insane as Suthep, and the criminal actions that this former Democrat MP advocates. I, of course, do not agree with all these naive people who support Suthep and the yellow/Dems street mobs, but it is useless to argue with such people.

Give them a chance. Forgive them. Do not wish that they get arrested.

Or, ...

Do you really think it would help???

I hate to think that you could be right width=20 alt=rolleyes.gif>

so ?? what are those who are totally fed up with this corrupt bunch and their red thugs totally controlled by one megalomaniac meant to do. They openly say they wont accept a court ruling. They push through in most vile way a bill to absolve a convicted criminal. They openly say they are able to do anything they want. So answer me that. Wait until Taksin and his cronies take over complete control of all checks and balances and then by some made up excuse introduce a police state. IMO it is very unlikely if anything was not done that their would be no real election since by then Taksin would have been back and having total control able and willing to put in his own one party dictatorship. This government has proved time and again they have no interest in anything but getting Taksin back at any cost.

Sure not ideal way to get rid of a mad megalomaniac but Taksin and his cronies have given no other choice and I for one support it 100% since its the only way to stop Thailand descending into a dictatorship.

I simply do not believe anything or almost anyone would be any worse than this curse which for years has been hanging over Thailand. IF they dropped Taksin totally and his clan while I may hate red thugs and cronies in this government at least their would not be one person controlling it all.

What you are meant to do if you are 'totally fed up with this corrupt bunch' is to write to your MP, write to the newspapers, join demonstrations if they are peaceful and dont go on and on. What you also have to accept is that others have a different view to yours and that those views were in the majority 2 years ago and the government that people elected has another 2 to 3 years to go. what you do NOT do is to occupy ministries and try to overthrow the elected government by undemocratic means. That is what living in a democracy means - respecting the others point of view, no matter how repugnant you find it.

[godden]

500 baht fine max.

[khunken]

What you are meant to do if you are 'totally fed up with this corrupt bunch' is to write to your MP, write to the newspapers, join demonstrations if they are peaceful and dont go on and on. What you also have to accept is that others have a different view to yours and that those views were in the majority 2 years ago and the government that people elected has another 2 to 3 years to go. what you do NOT do is to occupy ministries and try to overthrow the elected government by undemocratic means. That is what living in a democracy means - respecting the others point of view, no matter how repugnant you find it.

Yes & no. You're post only applies to a real democracy which Thailand hasn't got and never had. In addition real democracies could do with a realistic method of removing those who abuse their position to the detriment of their country. Bush & Blair in recent years for example.

Back to Thailand. When the abuse of power gets so great, it's time for real sanctions to be applied on a government. Unfortunately there are no sanctions that can be applied legally so people take to the streets. Waiting for another 2 years is not good enough when there is no sign that the abuse will stop. The government has made two successive major blunders that would cause any real democratic government to resign and call a general election.

Unfortunately they are not being allowed to resign by their puppet master who has scant regard for democracy. Actually these demonstrations are overwhelmingly peaceful and there's nothing violent in occupying ministries. I don't like Suthep but what he's doing is a dam_n site more justified than the riots in 2010.

Unfortunately neither side respects the other's point of view. Suthep is just a mini-Thaksin but is sticking his neck out unlike big T who pays others to do it..

[connda]

What I'd really like to see is an unbiased perspective on what is happening within the Thai government, the various parties reactions, and what is fomenting the protests this time. Anybody got a clue? And please dispense with any sarcasm, inaccurate information, or bias. I really think that the foreign community should understand what is going on and why -- from an outside point of view.

[connda]

By the way...regarding 'Democracy'.

When I first came to LOS in 2007, I had a man tell me he 'just wanted a democracy' like we had (in the West). This was near a protest site by Democracy Circle.

I replied, "Why do you think we have a democracy, and you don't?" I didn't get an answer. He just thought we all had these 'perfect' democracies. Yeah, maybe in Switzerland.

[metisdead]

Flame posts and replies have been removed as well as other off topic posts.

[MikeThaiEvo]

What I'd really like to see is an unbiased perspective on what is happening within the Thai government, the various parties reactions, and what is fomenting the protests this time. Anybody got a clue? And please dispense with any sarcasm, inaccurate information, or bias. I really think that the foreign community should understand what is going on and why -- from an outside point of view.

Thaksin runaway to Cambodia after the major incident 7 years ago. Now he's passport and staying there is near end, so his sister, current Prime Minister made a paper without asking anyone maybe one month ago to let her brother come back to Thailand (so called Amnesty Bill). After people find out about that yellow people start gathering in Bangkok and make protest with speech that last all night one night in Bangkok. 2 days after that Amnesty Bill is declined (they withdraw all signatures) and she was crying like a baby on national tv (Prime Minister who cries, very nice), and she was hoping that everything will be ok. But Amnesty Bill is not actually rejected, its just prolonged for 3 months until be voted again. And her elections are coming this Thursday, so now people want to destroy Thaksin regime (his sister). And red people are now getting money from government so they can destroy yellow one, also the police, military and everyone, so Thaksin regime can stay in Government (his shadow sister). Understand ?

[Calimotty]

Remember, this man also has a murder charge hanging over him. Not a nice man.

You joking right?

Reality is a General Election! So lets have one.

[Calimotty]

What I'd really like to see is an unbiased perspective on what is happening within the Thai government, the various parties reactions, and what is fomenting the protests this time. Anybody got a clue? And please dispense with any sarcasm, inaccurate information, or bias. I really think that the foreign community should understand what is going on and why -- from an outside point of view.

Thaksin runaway to Cambodia after the major incident 7 years ago. Now he's passport and staying there is near end, so his sister, current Prime Minister made a paper without asking anyone maybe one month ago to let her brother come back to Thailand (so called Amnesty Bill). After people find out about that yellow people start gathering in Bangkok and make protest with speech that last all night one night in Bangkok. 2 days after that Amnesty Bill is declined (they withdraw all signatures) and she was crying like a baby on national tv (Prime Minister who cries, very nice), and she was hoping that everything will be ok. But Amnesty Bill is not actually rejected, its just prolonged for 3 months until be voted again. And her elections are coming this Thursday, so now people want to destroy Thaksin regime (his sister). And red people are now getting money from government so they can destroy yellow one, also the police, military and everyone, so Thaksin regime can stay in Government (his shadow sister). Understand ?

Reality is a General Election! So lets have one.

[Calimotty]

What I'd really like to see is an unbiased perspective on what is happening within the Thai government, the various parties reactions, and what is fomenting the protests this time. Anybody got a clue? And please dispense with any sarcasm, inaccurate information, or bias. I really think that the foreign community should understand what is going on and why -- from an outside point of view.

Reality is a General Election! So lets have one.

[ballpoint]

Remember, this man also has a murder charge hanging over him. Not a nice man.

You joking right?

Reality is a General Election! So lets have one.

Yes. Come on Yingluck, let's have an election. Even your supporters are calling for one.

[MobileContent]

Suthep's only card is getting the army involved as the Democrat Party are unable to win an election. He was last time upset already that Chuan Lekpai give his blessings to Ahbisit and not to Suthep.

If the army takes over one day, rest assured that Suthep will this time take the PM post and Abhisit might be in some kind of advisory role.

He will run down the country in no time and I wouldn't be surprised if he turns out to be worse as Thaksin.

Any way, if a coup comes in the PTP will once again win the election as you can't change the demographics.

The Democrats can only win with the backing of the army. I am confident this time the army stays out of it.

[isawasnake]

I just can't relate with this, I really can't.

Here he is wanting to "storm the ministries". Now, his lawyer is making statements about him "not leading any demonstrators" into the ministries.

Honestly, is it just me? If you believe in something, stick to your guns. Why does everything have to be so half arsed here. This stuff, along with things such as the Thai "men" who blatantly ask for money from foreign husbands. Are there any actual men in Thailand?

[Artisi]

Remember, this man also has a murder charge hanging over him. Not a nice man.

You joking right?

Reality is a General Election! So lets have one.

Yes. Come on Yingluck, let's have an election. Even your supporters are calling for one.

But that needs the Ok from the fugitive, maybe he has an idea for an erection opps election at sometime but it will be entirely at his direction unless of course it comes to follow that he is outgunned by others who have more claim to the running of Thailand.

[SchuetzRob]

any similarity purely coincidental

nice try, but who is the guy on the right really.......

[Artisi]

I just can't relate with this, I really can't.

Here he is wanting to "storm the ministries". Now, his lawyer is making statements about him "not leading any demonstrators" into the ministries.

Honestly, is it just me? If you believe in something, stick to your guns. Why does everything have to be so half arsed here. This stuff, along with things such as the Thai "men" who blatantly ask for money from foreign husbands. Are there any actual men in Thailand?

Well, maybe he was smart enough to suggest that a few people should pay an educational visit to all these ministries to see how they function in the interests of the Thai people, now if some of these nice folk decided to stay on, how can he be charged with leading demonstrators into these places?

[metisdead]

2) Not to express disrespect of the King of Thailand or anyone else in the Thai royal family, whether living or deceased, nor to criticize the monarchy as an institution. Speculation, comments and discussion of either a political or personal nature are not allowed when discussing HM The King or the Royal family. Discussion of the lese majeste law or lese majeste cases is permitted on the forum, providing no comment or speculation is made referencing the royal family. To breach this rule will result in immediate ban.

A post in violation of the above forum rule has been removed as well as posts quoting that post.