Thai PM calls elections as 100,000 join protests

[robblok]

No doubt the people council would be made up of the heir of red bull and all the other thugs who because of their wealth can get away with anything including killing policemen all this anti Thaskin rubbish is because those with wealth want a bigger slice of the pie I for one believe that the former self appointed pm Abist is behind these anti social demonstrations the yellow shirt do not want elections as they know that in two decades they have never been elected when the people vote they can only get in by using the back door I cannot vote for either thank goodness as we all know that Thailand is a breeding ground for corruption

You seem to fail to see how coalition governments work. That is how the Democrats came to power even the PTP uses it.

Are you by any chance from a country where they only have 2 political parties or something like this ?

Where I come from coalitions are quite normal, there never is a party that gets a true majority.

When the Dems came to power it was by switching of alliances of the smaller parties, 100% legal and not that strange.

Just read up about it there is nothing shady about coalitions.

[philw]

I have said it before and will say it again - Most of the so called PTP/redshirt supporters on this forum are trolls ! I refuse to believe that it is possible to have so many misguided people in any one place at any one time. If I am wrong then I made a big mistake moving to Thailand and starting a family. alt=thumbsup.gif pagespeed_url_hash=1443177670 width=25 height=19>

It's odd that we foreigners seem to mirror the debate the Thais are having themselves. You think Red supporters on here are trolls - I find it very hard to believe that you aren't a troll. How can you support a ruling Chinese/Thai elite that would like to kick out all foreigners (except themselves of course) and allow the power of their money to rule Thailand as it has for a 100 years. The Shins will be gone in a few years, once the people realise they aren't real socialists: then the dems will be the Tories/Republicans, anxious to maintain the status quo. Jutaporn and Veera will be the socialists seeking to tax the rich until the pips squeak and the Shins will be wishy-washy liberals with no constituency.

"Chinese Thai elite" --- by that you mean Thaksin, right?

Er, no.

Look a bit higher...........

[whatsupdoc]

One post on this forum is advocating separating Isaan from Thailand. I presume he means that without the Isaan vote Pheu Thai would not be reelected to govern.

I would welcome Isaan being separated from Thailand for just one month. I would enjoy the chaos that this would cause to the rest of the country. Isaan is the beating heart of Thailand. Without it's workforce that toils hard to provide much of the food that the country eats, that operates the transport system, that carries out most of the unsung menial jobs in the nation, the country would swiftly grind to a halt

Let those that would decry the great service that Isaan people do for Thailand go hungry, go thirsty, go dirty,go nowhere.

The working classes have every right to help form a government through democratic elections.

Perhaps it is the complaining so called middle classes that should be cast adrift from the rest of Thai society. The small percentage of 'intellectuals' who believe it is their God given right to be the rulers of the country

I think the outcome would be very different..... It wouldn't matter that much for the rest of Thailand (plenty of food and labor) but the Isaan would be much worse off without the economic support of Bangkok and the industrial areas in the Eastern Seaboard and central Thailand.

[rubl]

I have said it before and will say it again - Most of the so called PTP/redshirt supporters on this forum are trolls ! I refuse to believe that it is possible to have so many misguided people in any one place at any one time. If I am wrong then I made a big mistake moving to Thailand and starting a family. alt=thumbsup.gif pagespeed_url_hash=1443177670 width=25 height=19>

It's odd that we foreigners seem to mirror the debate the Thais are having themselves. You think Red supporters on here are trolls - I find it very hard to believe that you aren't a troll. How can you support a ruling Chinese/Thai elite that would like to kick out all foreigners (except themselves of course) and allow the power of their money to rule Thailand as it has for a 100 years. The Shins will be gone in a few years, once the people realise they aren't real socialists: then the dems will be the Tories/Republicans, anxious to maintain the status quo. Jutaporn and Veera will be the socialists seeking to tax the rich until the pips squeak and the Shins will be wishy-washy liberals with no constituency.

"Chinese Thai elite" --- by that you mean Thaksin, right?

Er, no.

Look a bit higher...........

Thaksin's father, the UN?

[Tiffer]

100,000 on the streets in a country of 50,000,000.

A small minority trying to impose their will on a large majority.

When will Bangkokians learn that Thailand is much bigger than just Bangkok?

Bangkok is not Thailand. It's a part of Thailand.

And when will posters learn that Thailand is bigger than 50 million

Anyway, the greater metropolitan area is home to almost 20 million which is almost 30% of the population and well over 80% of the wealth creation so it stands to reason that voices carry weight around here...

Think on it a while...

Whilst thinking on it, it occurred to me that quite a lot of those 20 millions who help to create the wealth, are not allowed to vote in Bangkok but must return "up country" to there home provinces if they wish to vote. Now, if the system was reformed to allow them to vote where they currently live, perhaps there would be a bit more red in the Bangkok political mix? Worth thinking on a bit isn't it?

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Bangkok has 20 million and only 100,000 came out? So really, Suthep has only 5% of Bangkok supporting him. His cards are worse than I thought.

5% ??? Some people need to revisit maths 101...

[gemguy]

When you read the headlines and absorb what we are being told including the many implications you wonder how the yellow shirt party expects to actually last for any lenght of time running the government if they keep on bullying their way through the political landscape.

I guess they simply can not get over the fact that their brand of politics is long out of favour and not liked at all by most of the citizens.

They are growing all the uglier like a band of immature but agressive brats that will not take no for answer.

They are doing themselves all the more harm than good in the long run.

If they do bully their way into parliament, how long do they think they will last as they will have to call for elections..sooner or later ( as before ) and it is almost assured they will not win the votes.

The yellow shirts may hate Thaksin and loath the man to no end and use him as a tool and means of rallying their supporters but they seemingly have no idea just how much they are loathed by Thai citizens who are more than well aware of who they are and what they represent and who they represent and what their agenda is.

The red shirts are the means to seriously confront the yellow shirts and many Thais do not like Thaksin at all but they like the fact the Red shirt party can and has thwarted the yellow shirts and their political cronies from having the control they used to have in the past, as in : "The times are a changin my friend " while the political landscape is not what it used to be and so much in favour of the old guard...not any more.

So what to they do...they flex their muscles a little more and bully their way about trying to convince the citizens they are here to protect them from the "evil doers" ( as George Bush Junior said )

I like to think I am neutral on the subject of Thai politics...but ......I am starting to lean towards the red shirts and hope they can some how out maneuver the yellow shirt agression.

So many generalizations and plain misunderstandings. You might like to think you are neutral on the subject of Thai politics, I think you are clueless. First try to understand the difference between the yellow shirts, the protesters and the Democrat Party....

Well now ..you are entitled to your opinion..even if it is small minded.

And we should look to the all knowing "political oracle": wahtsupdoc when we need an in depth, all knowing explanation about what is happening amongst the political parties fighting over the spoils.

We are all waiting with baited breath for your profound political revelations rather than your uncalled for remarks about another persons submission.

[honcho]

100,000 on the streets in a country of 50,000,000.

A small minority trying to impose their will on a large majority.

When will Bangkokians learn that Thailand is much bigger than just Bangkok?

Bangkok is not Thailand. It's a part of Thailand.

SOM NAM NA seems to be in order.... if the thais had not taken the isaan land from the lao people they would not be out voted in their own country

you cant have your cake (isaan rice land)and eat (control) it

the sins of the fathers are coming back to haunt this generation.

[JRSoul]

One post on this forum is advocating separating Isaan from Thailand. I presume he means that without the Isaan vote Pheu Thai would not be reelected to govern.

I would welcome Isaan being separated from Thailand for just one month. I would enjoy the chaos that this would cause to the rest of the country. Isaan is the beating heart of Thailand. Without it's workforce that toils hard to provide much of the food that the country eats, that operates the transport system, that carries out most of the unsung menial jobs in the nation, the country would swiftly grind to a halt

Let those that would decry the great service that Isaan people do for Thailand go hungry, go thirsty, go dirty,go nowhere.

The working classes have every right to help form a government through democratic elections.

Perhaps it is the complaining so called middle classes that should be cast adrift from the rest of Thai society. The small percentage of 'intellectuals' who believe it is their God given right to be the rulers of the country

Partition, that worked so well in India! While we're on that comparison, which part of a separated Thailand would end up equating to Bangladesh, with one of the lowest living standards in the world, but heaps of low priced labour?

Without the rice subsidy draining the wealth from the south, what is the major industry of the area going to do with 20 million ton of rice, and more coming every day, that nobody seems to want to buy?

[Ticketmaster]

"We don't want politics any more -- no elections. Only the protesters can choose the next government. We choose, then the king appoints them," said one demonstrator who did not want to be named.

​Sounds treasonous to me. I guess this small minority wishes to unilaterally dump the Constitution. These are the same folks that protested Pheu Thai's attempt to lawfully amend it. The rhetorical question that begs to be asked is: "How do these folks dare call themselves "Democrats"? With the king appointing a council to rule the country, It sounds as though they advocate a return to an absolute monarchy.

[harada]

100,000 on the streets in a country of 50,000,000.

A small minority trying to impose their will on a large majority.

When will Bangkokians learn that Thailand is much bigger than just Bangkok?

Bangkok is not Thailand. It's a part of Thailand.

Maybe when tourists and foreign investors start to bypass Bangkok and it hits them in the back pocket.

[whatsupdoc]

When you read the headlines and absorb what we are being told including the many implications you wonder how the yellow shirt party expects to actually last for any lenght of time running the government if they keep on bullying their way through the political landscape.

I guess they simply can not get over the fact that their brand of politics is long out of favour and not liked at all by most of the citizens.

They are growing all the uglier like a band of immature but agressive brats that will not take no for answer.

They are doing themselves all the more harm than good in the long run.

If they do bully their way into parliament, how long do they think they will last as they will have to call for elections..sooner or later ( as before ) and it is almost assured they will not win the votes.

The yellow shirts may hate Thaksin and loath the man to no end and use him as a tool and means of rallying their supporters but they seemingly have no idea just how much they are loathed by Thai citizens who are more than well aware of who they are and what they represent and who they represent and what their agenda is.

The red shirts are the means to seriously confront the yellow shirts and many Thais do not like Thaksin at all but they like the fact the Red shirt party can and has thwarted the yellow shirts and their political cronies from having the control they used to have in the past, as in : "The times are a changin my friend " while the political landscape is not what it used to be and so much in favour of the old guard...not any more.

So what to they do...they flex their muscles a little more and bully their way about trying to convince the citizens they are here to protect them from the "evil doers" ( as George Bush Junior said )

I like to think I am neutral on the subject of Thai politics...but ......I am starting to lean towards the red shirts and hope they can some how out maneuver the yellow shirt agression.

So many generalizations and plain misunderstandings. You might like to think you are neutral on the subject of Thai politics, I think you are clueless. First try to understand the difference between the yellow shirts, the protesters and the Democrat Party....

Well now ..you are entitled to your opinion..even if it is small minded.

And we should look to the all knowing "political oracle": wahtsupdoc when we need an in depth, all knowing explanation about what is happening amongst the political parties fighting over the spoils.

We are all waiting with baited breath for your profound political revelations rather than your uncalled for remarks about another persons submission.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion as well, but it would really help if at least you would understand that the yellow shirt party is definitely not the same as the Democrats and that the protesters are a much wider group than either of those.

Comments about the political situation which are oversimplified (or even blatantly wrong) do not help in getting an in depth, all knowing explanation of what the current political situation entails.

I respect other opinions (apart from obvious trolls, but there's an ignore list for that) but prefer that those opinions are based on actual facts, not wide generalizations.

[Rivertiger]

The PM had shown Statesmanship in the way she has acted over these last few weeks.

The antigovernment protesters have lost their rattle out of their Pram, they cannot debate.

They wanted conflict and did not get it.

Over eight million live in Bangkok, over fourteen million people live within the surrounding Bangkok Metropolitan region.

150,000 protesters (BBC) is little compare to a Red Shirt calling.

So where is the other BKK 21,850,000 people, may be PM supporters.

The people had voted the PM Yingluck in power, so she should have completed her term.

New elections will voter her in again.

Any PM would and does look for point of views from who ever, family or another to see the best possible way forward, on all aspects of their administration.

The Thai people will decide in February.

Do not give up Yingluck, power to the people.

[jpeg]

The PM had shown Statesmanship in the way she has acted over these last few weeks.

The antigovernment protesters have lost their rattle out of their Pram, they cannot debate.

They wanted conflict and did not get it.

Over eight million live in Bangkok, over fourteen million people live within the surrounding Bangkok Metropolitan region.

150,000 protesters (BBC) is little compare to a Red Shirt calling.

So where is the other BKK 21,850,000 people, may be PM supporters.

The people had voted the PM Yingluck in power, so she should have completed her term.

New elections will voter her in again.

Any PM would and does look for point of views from who ever, family or another to see the best possible way forward, on all aspects of their administration.

The Thai people will decide in February.

Do not give up Yingluck, power to the people.

You're funny 15 post Rivertiger

[Ricardo]

If Suthep really has the majority of the country behind him, he should have no worries about winning the next election with a landslide. Why are the Democrats refusing the join the election then? Seems to me the easiest way to bring reforms is get elected and then pass your reforms since they would have an absolute majority, no?

"he should have no worries about winning the next election"

Do you have a source, suggesting that he will stand ?

and

"Why are the Democrats refusing to join the election then ?"

Similarly, do you have a source for that statement, I haven't seen it anywhere else ? I would hope and expect the Dems to contest the election, and that they will improve upon 2011, although wonder whether there's a slight chance that they may decide to put Korn in to bat, rather than headlining with Abhisit ?

It's certainly early to be so sure, as you seem to be, that they will refuse to participate.

Right now all the parties & politicians are scampering to get their 'acts' together, there are all those 5-year-ban people now available and expecting their rewards, the minor coalition-parties need to decide who to field as candidates, PTP even more so, although clearly Thaksin had already decided to run Yingluck again, perhaps as a result of his phone-calls to her (reported elsewhere) on Saturday & Sunday-nights.

No doubt the meetings are going on now, and all will become clearer, by the start of next week.

[mikemac]

"We don't want politics any more -- no elections. Only the protesters can choose the next government. We choose, then the king appoints them," said one demonstrator who did not want to be named.

​Sounds treasonous to me. I guess this small minority wishes to unilaterally dump the Constitution. These are the same folks that protested Pheu Thai's attempt to lawfully amend it. The rhetorical question that begs to be asked is: "How do these folks dare call themselves "Democrats"? With the king appointing a council to rule the country, It sounds as though they advocate a return to an absolute monarchy.

"These are the same folks that protested Pheu Thai's attempt to lawfully amend it."............................................................

PT tried to do something lawfully ? Are you absolutely sure ? If so I must have missed that, first time for everything but.

[mikemac]

It's odd that we foreigners seem to mirror the debate the Thais are having themselves. You think Red supporters on here are trolls - I find it very hard to believe that you aren't a troll. How can you support a ruling Chinese/Thai elite that would like to kick out all foreigners (except themselves of course) and allow the power of their money to rule Thailand as it has for a 100 years. The Shins will be gone in a few years, once the people realise they aren't real socialists: then the dems will be the Tories/Republicans, anxious to maintain the status quo. Jutaporn and Veera will be the socialists seeking to tax the rich until the pips squeak and the Shins will be wishy-washy liberals with no constituency.

Wow, millwall_fan, you really know how to hurt a guy.

First you accuse me of being a troll, when in fact my opinion of trolls is about as low as my opinion of the Shinawatras.

Then you accuse me of supporting "ruling Chinese/Thai elite" when in fact I have never said that, or even remotely suggested it, you must know by now how I feel about the Shinawatras.

The rest of your post made little sense to me so I don't know what you accused me of there.

[gemguy]

When you read the headlines and absorb what we are being told including the many implications you wonder how the yellow shirt party expects to actually last for any lenght of time running the government if they keep on bullying their way through the political landscape.

I guess they simply can not get over the fact that their brand of politics is long out of favour and not liked at all by most of the citizens.

They are growing all the uglier like a band of immature but agressive brats that will not take no for answer.

They are doing themselves all the more harm than good in the long run.

If they do bully their way into parliament, how long do they think they will last as they will have to call for elections..sooner or later ( as before ) and it is almost assured they will not win the votes.

The yellow shirts may hate Thaksin and loath the man to no end and use him as a tool and means of rallying their supporters but they seemingly have no idea just how much they are loathed by Thai citizens who are more than well aware of who they are and what they represent and who they represent and what their agenda is.

The red shirts are the means to seriously confront the yellow shirts and many Thais do not like Thaksin at all but they like the fact the Red shirt party can and has thwarted the yellow shirts and their political cronies from having the control they used to have in the past, as in : "The times are a changin my friend " while the political landscape is not what it used to be and so much in favour of the old guard...not any more.

So what to they do...they flex their muscles a little more and bully their way about trying to convince the citizens they are here to protect them from the "evil doers" ( as George Bush Junior said )

I like to think I am neutral on the subject of Thai politics...but ......I am starting to lean towards the red shirts and hope they can some how out maneuver the yellow shirt agression.

So many generalizations and plain misunderstandings. You might like to think you are neutral on the subject of Thai politics, I think you are clueless. First try to understand the difference between the yellow shirts, the protesters and the Democrat Party....

Well now ..you are entitled to your opinion..even if it is small minded.

And we should look to the all knowing "political oracle": wahtsupdoc when we need an in depth, all knowing explanation about what is happening amongst the political parties fighting over the spoils.

We are all waiting with baited breath for your profound political revelations rather than your uncalled for remarks about another persons submission.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion as well, but it would really help if at least you would understand that the yellow shirt party is definitely not the same as the Democrats and that the protesters are a much wider group than either of those.

Comments about the political situation which are oversimplified (or even blatantly wrong) do not help in getting an in depth, all knowing explanation of what the current political situation entails.

I respect other opinions (apart from obvious trolls, but there's an ignore list for that) but prefer that those opinions are based on actual facts, not wide generalizations.

This is a simple forum not a political science lesson while none of us are experts on Thai politics.

I have been here for 25 years...how about you?

I have seen Thai political parties come and go for 25 years.

Meantime the problem with your argument is like this:

Even if I was to gather a huge amount of factual information from the thousands of articles and abundance of data written about Thai politics and on record for the public to digest, extracted from a wide variety of information sources within the country and from outside the country and then include all the facts in any well written and concise, for the record, submission there would be all too many guys (such as yourself possibly ) that would refute it or dispute and or ignore it. They would still state their personal opinions ( a lot of it based on emotions ) and have their say while adamantly disagreeing about the current Thai political problems while some of them would get all nasty and belicose and turn it into a: "I know better than you argument"

Of course there are generalizations about the political situation going on as it is totally convoluted and really difficult to know what is going on exactly and or forecast with any certainty about what to expect next and in the years ahead.

For the record, I could submit a 100 page factually specific submission listing all the names of Thai politicians, past and present including their family back grounds and political affiliations and business affiliations and what they represent and who they represent.

How wealthy they are and how corrupt they are and how much good they accomplished during their political tenure verses how much self serving political gratification they practised.

I could include a long list of all various historical political events, big and small and the longer list of all the skullduggery practised by all the various politicians.

A long drawn out submission ( might as well write another book about it ) just so you can tell me there is now..... too much information in my submission and now it only confuses the readers.

Or we can wait for you to write a 1 page but concise submission explaining exactly who is who and or how did Thai politics evolve into the present situation.

Note: Please include references as to your sources of information so we do not mistake or miscontrue the information as your opinion based on your emotions and or dislike or loathing of any particular politician or political party.

"Just the facts ma'am" ( Sargent Joe Friday, Dragnet, Police T.V series )

I like to learn about such matters when I can....and happy to learn it from the well known expat political oracle: whatsupdoc...if that be the case

[mikemac]

This is a simple forum not a political science lesson while none of us are experts on Thai politics.

I have been here for 25 years...how about you?

I have seen Thai political parties come and go for 25 years.

Meantime the problem with your argument is like this:

Even if I was to gather a huge amount of factual information from the thousands of articles and abundance of data written about Thai politics and on record for the public to digest, extracted from a wide variety of information sources within the country and from outside the country and then include all the facts in any well written and concise, for the record, submission there would be all too many guys (such as yourself possibly ) that would refute it or dispute and or ignore it. They would still state their personal opinions ( a lot of it based on emotions ) and have their say while adamantly disagreeing about the current Thai political problems while some of them would get all nasty and belicose and turn it into a: "I know better than you argument"

Of course there are generalizations about the political situation going on as it is totally convoluted and really difficult to know what is going on exactly and or forecast with any certainty about what to expect next and in the years ahead.

For the record, I could submit a 100 page factually specific submission listing all the names of Thai politicians, past and present including their family back grounds and political affiliations and business affiliations and what they represent and who they represent.

How wealthy they are and how corrupt they are and how much good they accomplished during their political tenure verses how much self serving political gratification they practised.

I could include a long list of all various historical political events, big and small and the longer list of all the skullduggery practised by all the various politicians.

A long drawn out submission ( might as well write another book about it ) just so you can tell me there is now..... too much information in my submission and now it only confuses the readers.

Or we can wait for you to write a 1 page but concise submission explaining exactly who is who and or how did Thai politics evolve into the present situation.

Note: Please include references as to your sources of information so we do not mistake or miscontrue the information as your opinion based on your emotions and or dislike or loathing of any particular politician or political party.

"Just the facts ma'am" ( Sargent Joe Friday, Dragnet, Police T.V series )

I like to learn about such matters when I can....and happy to learn it from the well known expat political oracle: whatsupdoc...if that be the case

Your problem, gemguy, is this - Even if you were only half as smart as you make out to be, and I doubt that very much, most TV members would be thinking "If this guy is so sharp, what the hell is he doing posting condescending dribble on TV" ???

Me, well obviously I don't think like that, but I don't like anyone who is condescending towards us "simple folks". And as you said, this is not a political science lesson while none of us are experts on Thai politics.

[rubl]

One post on this forum is advocating separating Isaan from Thailand. I presume he means that without the Isaan vote Pheu Thai would not be reelected to govern.

I would welcome Isaan being separated from Thailand for just one month. I would enjoy the chaos that this would cause to the rest of the country. Isaan is the beating heart of Thailand. Without it's workforce that toils hard to provide much of the food that the country eats, that operates the transport system, that carries out most of the unsung menial jobs in the nation, the country would swiftly grind to a halt

Let those that would decry the great service that Isaan people do for Thailand go hungry, go thirsty, go dirty,go nowhere.

The working classes have every right to help form a government through democratic elections.

Perhaps it is the complaining so called middle classes that should be cast adrift from the rest of Thai society. The small percentage of 'intellectuals' who believe it is their God given right to be the rulers of the country

Partition, that worked so well in India! While we're on that comparison, which part of a separated Thailand would end up equating to Bangladesh, with one of the lowest living standards in the world, but heaps of low priced labour?

Without the rice subsidy draining the wealth from the south, what is the major industry of the area going to do with 20 million ton of rice, and more coming every day, that nobody seems to want to buy?

Look on the bright side. With half of Bangkok's population suddenly 'aliens' and in need of proper papers to work here, we might see a less congested Bangkok