Thai protesters congratulated for "reclaiming country with bare hands"

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POLITICS
Protesters congratulated for "reclaiming country with bare hands"
The Nation


Photo : Pramote Putthaisong

BANGKOK: -- Rally leader Suthep Thaugsuban spent seven hours on Monday leading a march from the Government Complex on Chaeng Wattana Road to the Government House on Phitsanulok Road.

Speaking on a newly set up stage in front of the Government House, Suthep said that today was a historic day for Thailand, the day all Bangkok roads were crowded with antigovernment protesters.

"We should be proud of ourselves that this is the first time the people, owners of the country, reclaimed the country from a corrupt government with our bare hands. We do it today, my fellow Thais," Suthep told the cheering crowds.

He also claimed that tonight would be the first time t the protesters would stay overnight in the middle of the streets.

He joked that he did not feel any pain in his legs after the long walk. "But my arms ache instead because I was waving to our supporters all along the route," he said.

He added that because he is the most senior member of People’s Democratic Reform Committee, the other members had ensured he had the longest march.


-- The Nation 2013-12-09

[Spare]

Suthep, the Mandala of Thailand.

[Hornell]

Suthep, the Mandala of Thailand. No way, Suthep has lost the plot big time, at least Mandela (note the spelling) had an agenda with an end-game.

[fab4]

Suthep, the Mandala of Thailand.

Suthep, the Madman of Thailand is more apt.

[DocN]

Suthep, the Mandala of Thailand.

Yes he maybe a mandala!

If you mean Mandela: how dare you?!

[jpeg]

He won. So go suck it up.

[DocN]

He won. So go suck it up.

...and Thailand looses!

Again!

Talking about "sucking"!

[cornishcarlos]

I thought they were going home after today's "d-day"...

Now they are camping out in the streets ??

I'm all for people power but have a plan at least, geeez...

[sjaak327]

He won. So go suck it up.

Did he ? Wasn't his end goal the People's council ? Did I miss something and is his People's council now running the country ?

Let's see if his friends can narrow the gap with PT in the upcoming elections. (if they don't boycott them !).

[newcomer71]

Lol, as I thought... Yeah, let's camp on the streets and disrupt everyday life of anyone else.

That's cool, congratulations Khun Suthep. Maybe if you will enlighten Thai people and tell them a draft plan, maybe...

[DK2223]

You all now can see. but for me I am still waiting for his agenda behind all the selling and idea. I want to see if really what he say to the people is what he really will do. Guys and girls, don't trust a politician and furthermore he is an old politician. And I want to see how the ways he propose the people council?

[bigbamboo]

'Seizing the country with his bare hands', the 'long march'...... veritable shades of William the Conqueror and Mao Tse Tung here. Could we be witnessing the emergence of Thailand's long overdue national hero or just another mouth and trousers politician with a big ego?

My money's on the latter.

[Gsxrnz]

Not sure if it's the poor sound quality on his 6pm speech tonight, but does he sound like a slightly laid back Herr Hitler or what?

[Mackie]

What do you think red supporters? Has Yingluck's government deliberate loss of more than 10 billion US dollars on rice scheme been justified? Bear in mind, they wasted 10 billion USD, not baht, just to stay popular in rural Thailand. How can anyone justifie that? It endangers the whole country's financial stability and the system.

An absolute idiot could run the country that way and win the election. Who is going to make up for more than 10 billion USD lost? By the way, rumour has it that there are 200 billion baht unaccounted for.

Edited December 9, 2013 by Mackie

[millwall_fan]

If we 'won' it was a pyrrhic victory, because in 60 days time there will be an election which he will lose again!!!!

Spare: i know your comparison was satirical, but it was in rather bad taste in my opinion.

'reclaimed the country from a corrupt government'? well, Mr. Suthep knows a thing or two about corruption.

[bigbamboo]

What do you think red supporters? Has Yingluck's government deliberate loss of more than 10 billion US dollars on rice scheme been justified? Bear in mind, they wasted 10 billion USD, not baht, just to stay popular in rural Thailand. How can anyone justifie that? It endangers the whole country's financial stability and the system.

An absolute idiot could run the country that way and win the election. Who is going to make up for more than 10 billion USD lost? By the way, rumour has it that there are 200 billion baht unaccounted for.

Who could justify that?

Robert Mugabe is one who comes to mind.

[binjalin]

He won. So go suck it up.

won what?

government still there

Shinawatras still there

Dems will lose again for 9th time running

[jpeg]

Carry on with your vitriol. I've never made a secret of disliking this man, what with his history of shonky land deals and ultra nationalism. But. He's won. Go get a beer, kick back. Don't forget who you are. FARANG

[millwall_fan]

What do you think red supporters? Has Yingluck's government deliberate loss of more than 10 billion US dollars on rice scheme been justified? Bear in mind, they wasted 10 billion USD, not baht, just to stay popular in rural Thailand. How can anyone justifie that? It endangers the whole country's financial stability and the system.

An absolute idiot could run the country that way and win the election. Who is going to make up for more than 10 billion USD lost? By the way, rumour has it that there are 200 billion baht unaccounted for.

The rice scheme was designed to help poor farmers who were being forced to sell their land to the rich and become tenants because they couldn't afford to keep going. The ruling elite rubbed their hands in glee as they bought up even more ethnic Thai owned land. I'm not saying the scheme is not corrupt. I'm not saying it is the most efficient way of taking money from the rich to give to the poor. I'm not saying that some of those administering the scheme don't have their fingers in the till. but it is a scheme. and no government has ever come up with a way to help the rural poor before. If Suthep has a better scheme to help the poor I'd love to hear it. But of course he hasn't. His patrons are very keen to abolish the scheme so that they can get their hands on more of the peasants land.

[millwall_fan]

Carry on with your vitriol. I've never made a secret of disliking this man, what with his history of shonky land deals and ultra nationalism. But. He's won. Go get a beer, kick back. Don't forget who you are. FARANG alt=laugh.png pagespeed_url_hash=4020895376 width=20 height=20>

He HAS NOT won! He's triggered another election. Which he will lose. Probably by boycotting it, but as far as I'm concerned that's still a loss.

[Siripon]

Incredible really, Thaksin's amnesty bill turned out to be a wonderful New Year's gift for the Democrats.

Has Yingluck got the stomach for another fight? To be constantly dogged by questions of putting family before country, incompetence, no leadership skills- it can't be fun.

The Democrats won using their bare hands, now comes the difficult part, forging a future for Thais to believe in. Reform the party, bring forward ideas for reforming Thailand, even bring in some Pheua Thai MPs- change is in the air, seize it.

[zeichen]

Personally, I think that anyone involved with protests and government overthrow should be banned from politics for at least 10 years if not forever.

I think that the only way this country will ever have a true democracy is when both parties find a common ground and those that don't like what the other party does wait and change the government through elections and not courts or protests.

Makes my whole family cry everytime either side has a fit

[greg71]

Will his arms be tired from waving goodbye when the democrats loose to up coming election .Bangkok is but one province where they have won b4 the chalenge comes in isaan and the north powerbases.

[Siripon]

He won. So go suck it up.

won what?

government still there

Shinawatras still there

Dems will lose again for 9th time running

He won because he forced a general election..The Shinawats are running out of prospective candidates for PM, Yingluck may be forced to stand again in spite of her saying she only wants peace.

Binjalin, is it possible for the red shirts and Pheua Thai to be actually democratic and choose their own leaders or are they beholden to Thaksin all their lives like indentured slaves?

[mca]

Has Yingluck got the stomach for another fight? To be constantly dogged by questions of putting family before country, incompetence, no leadership skills- it can't be fun.

As self-inflected as her situation might be and as justifiably loathed as she is by so many Thais I've got to give her props for maintain a modicum of holding it together amid the shitstorm that comes her way on a daily basis over literally everything. If it were me I'd be shotgunning tylenol 24-7 or have given up long ago and gone back to bed with a mug of Horlicks and a Rupert The Bear Annual..

[kurtgruen]

What do you think red supporters? Has Yingluck's government deliberate loss of more than 10 billion US dollars on rice scheme been justified? Bear in mind, they wasted 10 billion USD, not baht, just to stay popular in rural Thailand. How can anyone justifie that? It endangers the whole country's financial stability and the system.

An absolute idiot could run the country that way and win the election. Who is going to make up for more than 10 billion USD lost? By the way, rumour has it that there are 200 billion baht unaccounted for.

The rice scheme was designed to help poor farmers who were being forced to sell their land to the rich and become tenants because they couldn't afford to keep going. The ruling elite rubbed their hands in glee as they bought up even more ethnic Thai owned land. I'm not saying the scheme is not corrupt. I'm not saying it is the most efficient way of taking money from the rich to give to the poor. I'm not saying that some of those administering the scheme don't have their fingers in the till. but it is a scheme. and no government has ever come up with a way to help the rural poor before. If Suthep has a better scheme to help the poor I'd love to hear it. But of course he hasn't. His patrons are very keen to abolish the scheme so that they can get their hands on more of the peasants land.

Well, I am glad, you are bringing up the fact, that poor farmers were forced to sell their lands. What you forgot to mention is, what caused it...

Some years back, Thaksin made it possible for poor farmers to borrow money, for the first time, against their land and they would not have to pay any payments or interest, for about three years. Then in three years time, both payments and interest came due at once. It was one of the biggest land grabbing scams, Thaksin and his cronies ever came up with. Poor people lost their land, because they were robbed, by the false promises of the Thaskin government and then, they felt, it was their fault, because they screwed up. What happens, when you offer to loan money to poor, little educated, rural farmers, at no interest and payments for three years? He knew exactly what would happen. Thaksin is a shameless crook.

I take good ol' Nationalism over corrupt, so-called democracy anytime. Thailand for Thai People!

[millwall_fan]

He won because he forced a general election..The Shinawats are running out of prospective candidates for PM, Yingluck may be forced to stand again in spite of her saying she only wants peace.

no they're not! cousin Somchai Wongsawut has now served his 5 year ban and is able to serve once again!

Edited December 9, 2013 by millwall_fan

[jackrich]

Suthep didn't win. He lost. An election is the last thing he wanted. And he will lose again when February comes and the Thai people show the Democrats again that they don't want them in power.

Suthep can proclaim victory like North Koreas Kim Jong-un but the truth is that he has no power at all, without the army or police behind him, which he doesn't have.

[Stradavarius37]

Lol, as I thought... Yeah, let's camp on the streets and disrupt everyday life of anyone else.

That's cool, congratulations Khun Suthep. Maybe if you will enlighten Thai people and tell them a draft plan, maybe...

It's the same plan your red shirts had....lol oh snap!

[Stradavarius37]

Suthep didn't win. He lost. An election is the last thing he wanted. And he will lose again when February comes and the Thai people show the Democrats again that they don't want them in power.

Suthep can proclaim victory like North Koreas Kim Jong-un but the truth is that he has no power at all, without the army or police behind him, which he doesn't have.

Amsterdam? Where have you been? We've missed you !

Are you sure he doesn't have the army? I might bet you on that lol.

Edited December 9, 2013 by Stradavarius37