Thai protest leader meets PM, refuses to back down

[Prbkk]

Why do people always say the government was elected? They PAID for there votes…. That is Not democratic. That is Corruption…and that is what the Yingluck Government is.

I am sick of hearing people repeat this nonsense.

My girlfriend and dozens of other people in my neighborhood NEVER received a single baht for their vote.

In the contrary, they spend a lot of money to go to the votes.

On the other hand, the democrat candidate offered a free ride in a brandnew Toyota minibus and a free meal to everybody that wanted to vote for him.

Stop with that partizan propaganda please.

Stop talking in the past

times can change

My Thai wife and all her family from Kalasin voted for Yingluck

Now she is on the streets with her Thai friends wanting her out

You have to be blind not to see times are changing and the Issan educated youth of today are not the family families of 10 yeas ago

In the late 60's te youth of western countries (people power) stopped the Vietnam War with street protests

Thailand youth are just a few years behind the west

But times they are a changing

What was the situation in the lst election, may not be in the next election

But education is changing Thailand, and the days of currupt governments on both sides are comming to an end

No...this movement has had 2 distinct phases. First,the anti-amnesty bill whistle blowing , largely middle class, street protests. They won...and good luck to them, democracy at work. The second part is the sinister one we see now. Most of the original group have left the streets and been replaced by a much more radical ( and decidedly unpleasant) mob, including the thuggy lot determined to deny everyone else access to essential services. Mob rule, chaos, anarchy. Turn the water cannons on them!

[brit1984]

yingluck is elected by the people, not suthep, thus he is in no position to give the ultimatum to yingluck and she need not bother about him actually.

she should bother with him because he represents a lot of people / voters and until the leadership of either side makes an effort to reach out and understand the concerns of the other side, this messy and destructive political merry go round will continue ad infinitum

[brit1984]

Suthep is hardly the person to lead Thailand on the international arena. Doesn't he have warrants for his arrest? So when he takes control of the country and it's coffers what then, does he give himself amnesty and make all his wrongs disappear?

Suthep is a fool and all he is doing is putting the Thai peoples lives at risk. There will be more bloodshed because of this dictator, who originally started this crap as a throw off for him and Abhisit were or were going to be charged for murder. If he was charged and arrest warrants were issued,he should have been arrested at this meeting by the Police. All he said to Yingluck at the meeting was that he wanted her to stand down from Government, by saying this at the meeting with the Military and Police forces there he was also in fact telling them he was taking over as well, that he was in charge and that what ever happens it will be his way. I see where Abhisit has not actually stated that he would lead the demonstrations if Suthep was arrested in fact he stated it was possible,that anyone could lead the demonstrations. he has been keeping his distance and will now keep right out of it as there have been deaths once again.

Suthep's agenda has nothing to do with the country or the people it is all about him. He is using the people so he can appoint himself as the ruler of the country. Personally I believe he is dangerous and no I am not supporting Thaksin he still needs to be arrested and imprisoned for his crimes. There are a lot of good well educated people I am sure that could do a really fine job of running the country unfortunately they will never have the chance as they do not come from Hi So sect which includes reds and yellows.

what about abhisit?... he seems to be a few phases of evolution ahead of the rest of them (on either side)

[Anon999]

One party appears to pay more than the others......

Bs... Do you have any proof?

And in any case: both sides are a complete ruin for this country, and you still take sides?

Yingluck and Suthep are two different sides of the same disgrace.

My wife takes money from all of them and tells me who pays what! Yes the PTP pay more.

[sscsamui]

Why do people always say the government was elected? They PAID for there votes. That is Not democratic. That is Corruptionand that is what the Yingluck Government is.

Being honest can you say with your hand on your heart that elections in America, Australia, England etc etc aren't bought - prior to flaming look at it in the broader sense - the money flows in from those that want something and promises/commitments are made.

If you do not believe this then why is the newly elected government in Australia pulling down (or apart) programmes put in as sweetners (paybacks) by the previous guys in power.

Sadly it's the way of the world he who pays/promises the most eventually gets the power and the voters actually receive what they blindly vote for.

In my country I was not given Any money to vote for this elected President, nor was Any other person i know. Yes Politicians campaign for money to run there campaign and make promises for the money. But they do Not Pay people to Vote and drives them to the poling stations… Paying for and driving people to vote for you because they are poor and uneducated about politics and democracy and the truth about the person they are voting of is not right… Thailand is a beautiful country with Beautiful people and a Great culture. The Thaksin clan is destroying it and should not be in power any longer or ever again if Thailand is to flourish again and have peace. I am not saying that the opposition is right for Thailand but Change is needed… Right?

[Ulic]

This guy is loony end of story. Sounds like he is bitter that Thaksin was a bigger/more effective thief than he was

so he is desperate for a second chance.

[brit1984]

Suthep is hardly the person to lead Thailand on the international arena. Doesn't he have warrants for his arrest? So when he takes control of the country and it's coffers what then, does he give himself amnesty and make all his wrongs disappear?

Well at least he stands up for his beliefs

and unlike your hero, he has not run away like the coward he is

two wrongs don't make a right - suthep's history of corruption over land rights / conflict between commercial interests and parliamentary responsibility is similar to thaksin's

if suthep's efforts reduce the power / influence of thaksin that would be good, but any resulting increase in suthep's power / influence would be bad (and personally i feel his focus is much more on the latter)

[Thaddeus]

I have no horse in this race, but it seems to me that Sutep wants the exact opposite of democracy. Overthrow the government and replace them with what? Like them or hate them they were elected by a majority.

The majority?

Like most gamblers in this region, 'the majority' didn't study the racing form of the horses in the race, or if they did, they didn't think it mattered........ they just put their stake on the gold plated horse.

The gold plated horse turned out to be a very hungry donkey that enjoys the comfort of the starting gate.

So now, the finish line has to come to it.

[tingtongteesood]

"I told Yingluck that this is the only and last time I see her until power is handed over to the people,"

"The People", in this case not including the four dead people who died for this "cause". Who sounds like were probably students / young protesters ie. kids pretty much. And for what? Power handed over? How? Why? To who? Is the abstract concept of "power" worth even a grazed knee on a young person, much less their whole future life erased. For nothing. Nothing has been achieved. The massprotest large number of people on the street, for a day, was an achievement and a powerful statement. Everything since then has been tragic, stupid, pointless.

You should ask this question to Tida, head of the government's private red shirt militia since it seems to be the reds that did most of the killing...

[tezzainoz]

Times they are a changing

In the late 60’s I walked on the streets with other members from my university

We stood up to the all mighty US Governement

we Sang the Famous Bob Dyland Song

It was the youth of that year that learnt the the people must be listened to

we went up against a police for 10 times better than what you are up against

we did not fight, we did not destroy, we hurt no one we just all sat down in the streets and sang this song

be brought every major city in the western world to a stand still

and we won against odds that you can not even imagine

all you need is to understand

Together we are unbeatable

but devided we can easily be walked over

the minute you start fighting

you loose the backing of the average person

[mgjackson69]

Times they are a changing

 

 

In the late 60’s I walked on the streets with other members from my university

We stood up to the all mighty US Governement

we Sang the Famous Bob Dyland Song

 

It was the youth of that year that learnt the the people must be listened to

we went up against a police for 10 times better than what you are up against

we did not fight, we did not destroy, we hurt no one we just all sat down in the streets and sang this song

be brought every major city in the western world to a stand still

and we won against  odds that you can not even imagine

all you need is to understand

 

 

Together we are unbeatable

but devided we can easily be walked over

the minute you start fighting

you loose the backing of the average person

 

The comparison is not really valid.

In USA circa late 60s, there was no protest leader calling for the overthrow of the US government, nor even the removal of one leader.

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[brit1984]

for all those who still think the result of democratic elections should be ignored because the votes were bought for 500 baht, please ponder this...

for ~10% of the cost of the rice scheme the opposition could offer an income assistance program (to enough voters to more than cover the required swing to win) worth 500 baht PER MONTH EVERY MONTH

let's get real... the opposition's holier than thou rhetoric is nonsense... they just think the electorate is too stupid to choose the government and can't be bothered with the effort of reaching out and trying to understand them / help them

if the electorate is so cheap and/or the current government is so obviously terrible (i agree with the latter) gaining power through the conventional means of a democratic election would surely be easy!

[newcomer71]

My wife takes money from all of them and tells me who pays what! Yes the PTP pay more.

Does your wife and her family count for all Thailand?

I know lots of families paid for vote and transportation plus free meals paid from Democrats. Should I say Democrats pay more?

I repeat. I am not on any side. Both parties are full of corruption and interests.

Playing "This pays more than that" is just silly. Both of them have to change if need real democracy.

[brit1984]

My wife takes money from all of them and tells me who pays what! Yes the PTP pay more.

Does your wife and her family count for all Thailand?

I know lots of families paid for vote and transportation plus free meals paid from Democrats. Should I say Democrats pay more?

I repeat. I am not on any side. Both parties are full of corruption and interests.

Playing "This pays more than that" is just silly. Both of them have to change if need real democracy.

maybe there's a commercial opportunity for a vote buying auction website

[hellodolly]

"We will not be satisfied with house dissolution or new elections," Suthep said.

He said Yingluck did not give an answer to the demands.

He said that with the heads of the army navy and air force present.

She was probably laughing to hard to answer him.

Notice he does not say what their reaction was.

I take it to not be to encouraging so he dosen't mention it.

He had a good thing going for a very good reason. He was doing good.

Now he has become the same as Jutuporn to the movement. A court jester.

Unreasonable demands as well as unconstitutional. Honesty ion the government will take several generations but it will never happen his way. Get the government to call for new elections that is the Parliamentary way of doing it. The people are awake and it is a growing awareness give it the time do not shove it down the throats of people all he will do is create a worse situation.

[DocN]

Dear Mr. Suthep...why meet anyone, when all you have to offer is "my way or the highway"?

After all, you are dealing with an elected government...oh right...that pesky thing with democracy, you despise so much!

Unfortunately except for "she refused" -which is to be expected- there is nothing in here about what was actually spoken about.

Waste of time, completely!

Purchased votes from countryside simpleton folks. Would be very interesting to note fund transfers or bank account balances during the last protests.

a) yeah...don't care, but if you want: you are dealing with an elected government in a typical Thai- election...

b ) they all paid, pay and will pay or administrate other form of -gentle or not so gentle- persuasion to get elected.

c) paying off the simpletons was okay, as long as they voted, how they were supposed to do. When they started to vote against the interest of certain people, suddenly they are attacked for it! Strange!

Edited December 2, 2013 by DocN

[brit1984]

I have no horse in this race, but it seems to me that Sutep wants the exact opposite of democracy. Overthrow the government and replace them with what? Like them or hate them they were elected by a majority.

The majority?

Like most gamblers in this region, 'the majority' didn't study the racing form of the horses in the race, or if they did, they didn't think it mattered........ they just put their stake on the gold plated horse.

The gold plated horse turned out to be a very hungry donkey that enjoys the comfort of the starting gate.

So now, the finish line has to come to it.

if you interfere with the race before its finished, you will make the punters very angry

better let the race unfold with the fastest horse galloping ahead in style

a horse that doesn't leave the starting gate shouldn't be too difficult to beat

[rogerdee123]

"We will not be satisfied with house dissolution or new elections," Suthep said.

He said Yingluck did not give an answer to the demands.

He said that with the heads of the army navy and air force present.

She was probably laughing to hard to answer him.

Notice he does not say what their reaction was.

I take it to not be to encouraging so he dosen't mention it.

He had a good thing going for a very good reason. He was doing good.

Now he has become the same as Jutuporn to the movement. A court jester.

Unreasonable demands as well as unconstitutional. Honesty ion the government will take several generations but it will never happen his way. Get the government to call for new elections that is the Parliamentary way of doing it. The people are awake and it is a growing awareness give it the time do not shove it down the throats of people all he will do is create a worse situation.

Well Suthep has been charged with murder, rather unreasonably and without doubt politically motivated. So I suspect this has probably affected his sense of fair play and reasonableness.

PTP and the Govt is reaping what (unreasonableness) they have sown .

[chooka]

Suthep is hardly the person to lead Thailand on the international arena. Doesn't he have warrants for his arrest? So when he takes control of the country and it's coffers what then, does he give himself amnesty and make all his wrongs disappear?

Well at least he stands up for his beliefs

and unlike your hero, he has not run away like the coward he is

Who is my hero are you talking about that criminal thaksin who I personally believe should be locked away? He is no hero of mine. You are another poster who automatically thinks that anyone who doesn't support Suthep and the KAOS his people are causing are red supporters. Some of us don't support anyside.

Personally I think Thaksin and Suthep are both very dangerous and tarred with the same brush, both have identical agendas and that is for the ultimate power in Thailand.

[newcomer71]

Interesting with the head of her three military arms there she has a warrant out for his arrest why did she not just have him carted off to jail?

And give a hot start to the chaos?

At least she is showing she want to have negotiations, Suthep knows better...

On what planet are you located. Issuing arrest warrants and not enforcing them is not how you ask for some one to negotiate. If all she wants to do is negotiate why the warrants. A snap of her fingers and they would disappear.

I live and work in Bangkok, and I am entitled to have an opinion different from yours, without being pointed as an alien.

If they arrested Suthep last night, he would have been the hero for his believers. That's what I think, you're free to think in a different way.

Peace.

[BSJ]

Well the weekend fracas in Bangkok has given a lot of tourists in Pattaya a good reason to go home early. Last night both shops my wife owns had a constant stream of Russian's buying up before they leave early. Of course they are wrong in believing Pattaya is anymore dangerous than normal....but what they see on TV ain't a love in!

[Baerboxer]

Suthep is insane.

Yingluck gave him a chance. One more.

Now it is time to get rid of the criminal, violent and deadly nuisances he and his yellow thugs have created.

Yingluck and her democratically elected government can be praised for being so accommodating with such criminals.

Suthep is just trying to destroy the whole democracy. His blind followers should be condemned for supporting such a madness. The Dems will be remembered for having encouraged citizens to turn into criminals. All this because of their appetite for the power that they can't obtain through free elections.

Yingluck is far better at the helm of the government that such an extremist.

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Your last sentence removed any possible credibility.

Do you really believe Yingluck is at the helm of this government ?

If she actually was, Thailand might not be in this mess.

[SouthernMan3]

Hinted maybe, what is your stance?

What is your solution to this mess?

My stance is all politicians, democrats or Peuh Thai are crooked in Thailand, i do not stand for Thaksin but for sure neither the democrats who tried to keep for decades the rural people in ignorance because it served them quite well and needed a Thaksin to wake up...a bit

Maybe i m the only one here to think that I d not have a practical solution to this mess, however mass education seems to be a good start, getting rid of the democracy and asking for an appointed cabinet is for sure not the solution.

I think it is if the Most Important Person in Thailand were to do the appointing.

[Frank James]

What a country, when a fascist thug, under indictment for murder, with an actual warrant out for his arrest for treasonous acts, is allowed to meet with the Prime Minister, and spew out his non-negotiable, illegal "demands." And then gets to walk out of the room without being arrested.

This government is far too accommodating to those who would destroy the country.

[Jingthing]

Thugs on all sides here mate.

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[kimamey]

What a country, when a fascist thug, under indictment for murder, with an actual warrant out for his arrest for treasonous acts, is allowed to meet with the Prime Minister, and spew out his non-negotiable, illegal "demands." And then gets to walk out of the room without being arrested.

This government is far too accommodating to those who would destroy the country.

There's no reason he shouldn't meet with the PM as he is at the front of the present trouble. Unfortunately he seems to be power crazed now so the meeting seems to have been pointless and he's ruined a lot of the goodwill that the protesters had to start with.

Avoiding arrest warrants and being allowed to walk away aren't that unusual here it seems and in this case it was probably decided that arresting him would gain him more support and cause more trouble. He seems to be running out of steam pretty quickly now.

As for the indictment for murder I think that was just to put pressure on him and Abhisit to accept an amnesty that included Thaksin. From what evidence I've heard of the army would be the ones accused of murder but the government aren't likely to pursue that.

Hopefully he will be gone soon before he causes any more damage to the anti government protesters who were making a peaceful point that he has ruined.

[Jackson86]

yingluck is elected by the people, not suthep, thus he is in no position to give the ultimatum to yingluck and she need not bother about him actually.

Was Yingluck elected ?????? I have an idea she was placed there.

well I can also say that Abhisit was elected OUT, hence Yingluck was elected IN. Whatever it is, it's still a fact that Yingluck government was elected through elections.

[mgjackson69]

 

yingluck is elected by the people, not suthep, thus he is in no position to give the ultimatum to yingluck and she need not bother about him actually.

 

Was Yingluck elected  ??????   I have an idea she was placed there.

 

 

well I can also say that Abhisit was elected OUT, hence Yingluck was elected IN. Whatever it is, it's still a fact that Yingluck government was elected through elections.

No No NO! You have it all wrong!

Since Yingluck is not "our guy", she was not elected...she was placed, the election was rigged,

If "our guy" gets in power, regardless of the circumstances, i will be democratic, by the people,

Note: I do not include myself when I use the term "our guy"; I do not belong to either 'side'.

Do I have an opinion on who should be in power here? Certainly.. Do I feel the need to share it? Not really..I cannot participate in choosing the leaders here, I am a guest regardless of how long I have been here (longer than many, shorter than some). Even if I had intricate knowledge of Thai history, the government structure, and the personalities involved, I would not presume to tell the Thai people who their leaders should be.

That he rest of the world would afford the same courtesy to me and my fellow countrymen.

As to the current political situation in Thailand, I tend to comment on the hypocrisy and double standards demonstrated by both sides.

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[hellodolly]

My stance is all politicians, democrats or Peuh Thai are crooked in Thailand, i do not stand for Thaksin but for sure neither the democrats who tried to keep for decades the rural people in ignorance because it served them quite well and needed a Thaksin to wake up...a bit

Maybe i m the only one here to think that I d not have a practical solution to this mess, however mass education seems to be a good start, getting rid of the democracy and asking for an appointed cabinet is for sure not the solution.

I think it is if the Most Important Person in Thailand were to do the appointing.

Only been here for 7 years what decades was the Democrats in power. Also what have they got to do with 2013

I don;t agree on the committee approach as it is unconstitutional and Suthep should try to avoid that trap.

but if it was to come to pass that it happened I completely agree with the choice of the one to pick. Not only important but also honest person. I know I would have a very hard time naming some of the loose canons to it but they also would have to be represented on it.

What a country, when a fascist thug, under indictment for murder, with an actual warrant out for his arrest for treasonous acts, is allowed to meet with the Prime Minister, and spew out his non-negotiable, illegal "demands." And then gets to walk out of the room without being arrested.

This government is far too accommodating to those who would destroy the country.

You say

What a country, when a fascist thug, under indictment for murder, with an actual warrant out for his arrest for treasonous acts, is allowed to meet with the Prime Minister, and spew out his non-negotiable, illegal "demands." And then gets to walk out of the room without being arrested.

You mindlessly bash Thailand.

Did you not for one moment stop to think why are there murder charges against him and why are there arrest warrants out for him?

The answers would tell you why he is allowed to strut around the streets and not face a court for the murder charges. If the Government was to do those things it would be counter productive to their goals.

Maybe you are new to politics and not aware of the facts that these boys play hard and mean games. Guilt does not matter just the fact that they can make accusations and take the spot light of them. That is what counts.

[hellodolly]

yingluck is elected by the people, not suthep, thus he is in no position to give the ultimatum to yingluck and she need not bother about him actually.

Was Yingluck elected ?????? I have an idea she was placed there.

well I can also say that Abhisit was elected OUT, hence Yingluck was elected IN. Whatever it is, it's still a fact that Yingluck government was elected through elections.

Correct not sure of the number of people but I believe it is in the area of 480 people got together and elected her. The majority of those voting for her being on her brothers pay roll seems to have made a difference. I could be wrong but I doubt it. Other than the 480 number I am sure that is wrong.