Thailand's army moves to ease coup fears

[JRSoul]

Coup fears? The country should be more afraid of 4 more years of Shinawatra maladministration. Thais are like lobsters in a pot being brought to the boil; they know things are bad but scared that jumping out might be worse.

[khunken]

Again why the need to say anything he is not an MP.

indeed Army business is to serve the elected government

imagine, for a moment, a US General, or a British Field Marshal even hesitating for a second when asked to undertake their duty by the elected President or Parliament? let alone having the affront to speak about it

now imagine, for a moment, a country where students rise up AGAINST democracy, fight an elected government, take over a Police station because the Police General says 'it is the people's as they are tax payers'

or a country which allows the Prime Minister to be confronted by a tomboy whistle blower up to his/her face with no security

or allows a minority to force an election THEN say they don't want one as they would rather a Fascist non-elected council?

you could hardly make it up : Amazing Thailand

Armies are supposed to protect the country not just do as a serving government pleases. There are too many examples of governments misusing the military to invade or attack other countries often without any real threat. Iraq, Libya, Vietnam, Afghanistan are just a few examples.

The Thai military has a mandate to protect the monarchy, the country & the religion. They are indeed not really under the control of any government but IMO that is balanced by the fact that the far more corrupt (& day-to-day powerful) police are used to serve a corrupt party.

Also, just imagine a country that is governed by a self-exiled criminal who has his own local militia to intimidate whoever & whenever he wants. And a government, led by his sister, that has done its damnest to usurp the law to get him back. Amazing Thailand is right.

Edited December 31, 2013 by khunken

[BusyB]

They're extremely reluctant - not only because of a potential split in the military (not an unusual event either if you look back in history - one reason the 32 coup came unstuck). Fact is that they proved themselves economically totally inept and unable to formulate/implement economic policy last time round. It cost the country a lot of THB and a lot of face for themselves - they were blasted from all sides. In 06 they discovered that the world's changed since 92 and Thailand ain't a backwater which can be run like a fiefdom any more. That's all.

[VINCENT2012]

The thai politic and the very high class thai society in my opinion is STILL 100% feodal and conservative.

They dont care about thailand, there own country,NO.. this peolple do care about money, power and to be above the rest of the thai citizens.

as you can see the fight is only in bangkok in a few places , the normal thai people take this situation as a joke as usual... they have seen so many....that one more...doesn't really matter !!!

SO DO YOU THINK ........Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who they accuse of being a puppet of her self-exiled brother and former premier, Thaksin Shinawatra. .......IS CUDE OR NOT ?

good day and good night

[bigbamboo]

They're extremely reluctant - not only because of a potential split in the military (not an unusual event either if you look back in history - one reason the 32 coup came unstuck). Fact is that they proved themselves economically totally inept and unable to formulate/implement economic policy last time round. It cost the country a lot of THB and a lot of face for themselves - they were blasted from all sides. In 06 they discovered that the world's changed since 92 and Thailand ain't a backwater which can be run like a fiefdom any more. That's all.

On the other hand they couldn't be as economically inept as PT have been with the rice scam and that has cost the country more baht and more face than anyone could ever have imagined.

[oldthaihand99]

Again why the need to say anything he is not an MP.

indeed Army business is to serve the elected government

imagine, for a moment, a US General, or a British Field Marshal even hesitating for a second when asked to undertake their duty by the elected President or Parliament? let alone having the affront to speak about it

now imagine, for a moment, a country where students rise up AGAINST democracy, fight an elected government, take over a Police station because the Police General says 'it is the people's as they are tax payers'

or a country which allows the Prime Minister to be confronted by a tomboy whistle blower up to his/her face with no security

or allows a minority to force an election THEN say they don't want one as they would rather a Fascist non-elected council?

you could hardly make it up : Amazing Thailand

Armies are supposed to protect the country not just do as a serving government pleases. There are too many examples of governments misusing the military to invade or attack other countries often without any real threat. Iraq, Libya, Vietnam, Afghanistan are just a few examples.

The Thai military has a mandate to protect the monarchy, the country & the religion. They are indeed not really under the control of any government but IMO that is balanced by the fact that the far more corrupt (& day-to-day powerful) police are used to serve a corrupt party.

Also, just imagine a country that is governed by a self-exiled criminal who has his own local militia to intimidate whoever & whenever he wants. And a government, led by his sister, that has done its damnest to usurp the law to get him back. Amazing Thailand is right.

Family is all important in Buddhism, so naturally she is going to try to bring her brother back home to his relatives.

She sweetened the pot by offering amnesty to those of the opposition, in the name of reconcilation & peace rather than continued bloodshed. Well, that was rejected & bloodshed was chosen instead.

Pardon & amnesty of criminals is quite a regular occurence in Thailand.

[BusyB]

They're extremely reluctant - not only because of a potential split in the military (not an unusual event either if you look back in history - one reason the 32 coup came unstuck). Fact is that they proved themselves economically totally inept and unable to formulate/implement economic policy last time round. It cost the country a lot of THB and a lot of face for themselves - they were blasted from all sides. In 06 they discovered that the world's changed since 92 and Thailand ain't a backwater which can be run like a fiefdom any more. That's all.

On the other hand they couldn't be as economically inept as PT have been with the rice scam and that has cost the country more baht and more face than anyone could ever have imagined.

I do appreciate that charge could be levelled at a lot of people, but I was commenting on what I perceive to be current military motives.

[khunken]

Again why the need to say anything he is not an MP.

indeed Army business is to serve the elected government

imagine, for a moment, a US General, or a British Field Marshal even hesitating for a second when asked to undertake their duty by the elected President or Parliament? let alone having the affront to speak about it

now imagine, for a moment, a country where students rise up AGAINST democracy, fight an elected government, take over a Police station because the Police General says 'it is the people's as they are tax payers'

or a country which allows the Prime Minister to be confronted by a tomboy whistle blower up to his/her face with no security

or allows a minority to force an election THEN say they don't want one as they would rather a Fascist non-elected council?

you could hardly make it up : Amazing Thailand

Armies are supposed to protect the country not just do as a serving government pleases. There are too many examples of governments misusing the military to invade or attack other countries often without any real threat. Iraq, Libya, Vietnam, Afghanistan are just a few examples.

The Thai military has a mandate to protect the monarchy, the country & the religion. They are indeed not really under the control of any government but IMO that is balanced by the fact that the far more corrupt (& day-to-day powerful) police are used to serve a corrupt party.

Also, just imagine a country that is governed by a self-exiled criminal who has his own local militia to intimidate whoever & whenever he wants. And a government, led by his sister, that has done its damnest to usurp the law to get him back. Amazing Thailand is right.

Family is all important in Buddhism, so naturally she is going to try to bring her brother back home to his relatives.

She sweetened the pot by offering amnesty to those of the opposition, in the name of reconcilation & peace rather than continued bloodshed. Well, that was rejected & bloodshed was chosen instead.

Pardon & amnesty of criminals is quite a regular occurence in Thailand.

No, when a PM puts her family before the country (PM is for ALL Thais), he/she is not fit to govern. In this case the family member is a convicted criminal.

The amnesty not only offered amnesty to the opposition, red shirt leaders but potentially those involved in 25,000 or so cases of corruption. The original amnesty was for the benefit of those charged and/or jailed for minor offences in 2010 and supported by the opposition as well as the relatives of innocent people killed in the riots. It was then changed to ensure her brother was included.

Yes, pardons (not amnesty) are offered to some criminals who have completed a substantial part of their sentences, reductions are given to some of good conduct. Rich crooks either pay bribes (which Thaksin tried to do) or scarper abroad which Thaksin did as well.

[ratcatcher]

Thailand's army is a joke. If Prayuth and most of his predecessors had lived in Central Africa they would have been involved in mass murder. They always take sides, sometimes they do it themselves, sometimes they lend support to a mass movement that still is a significant minority and sometimes they instruct courts. Prayuth and his cronies are never unbiased.

The Thai army is the root of corruption. Under the democrat governments Thailand's infrastructure was as badly managed as the US's infrastructure under the tea party. All the money went to the military and the military and the politicians got rich.

Under Thaksin the money shifted from the military to infrastructure from airports to roads and bridges and the politicians still got rich.

I rather prefer the latter form of corruption.

priceless...

Roger to that, SIR!!

[ratcatcher]

They're extremely reluctant - not only because of a potential split in the military (not an unusual event either if you look back in history - one reason the 32 coup came unstuck). Fact is that they proved themselves economically totally inept and unable to formulate/implement economic policy last time round. It cost the country a lot of THB and a lot of face for themselves - they were blasted from all sides. In 06 they discovered that the world's changed since 92 and Thailand ain't a backwater which can be run like a fiefdom any more. That's all.

"In 06 they discovered that the world's changed since 92 and Thailand ain't a backwater which can be run like a fiefdom any more."

Correct, now it's being run simply and blatantly as a "thiefdom"

[citizen33]

Thailand's army is a joke. If Prayuth and most of his predecessors had lived in Central Africa they would have been involved in mass murder. They always take sides, sometimes they do it themselves, sometimes they lend support to a mass movement that still is a significant minority and sometimes they instruct courts. Prayuth and his cronies are never unbiased.

The Thai army is the root of corruption. Under the democrat governments Thailand's infrastructure was as badly managed as the US's infrastructure under the tea party. All the money went to the military and the military and the politicians got rich.

Under Thaksin the money shifted from the military to infrastructure from airports to roads and bridges and the politicians still got rich.

I rather prefer the latter form of corruption.

priceless...

Roger to that, SIR!!

There seems to be some truth in the proposition though, at least regarding defense spending.

http://milexdata.sipri.org/result.php4 (need to type in ‘Thailand’)

After the Asian crash, Thai military expenditure fell from 2.1% of GDP in 1997 to 1.5% in 2000, but under Thaksin it declined further to 1.1% in the three years 2004-06. You will notice that after the coup it started to rise once more until this trend was halted in 2010. The question that springs to mind is whether the deal with PTP at around that time involved any promises for the future. It seems the Government’s aim was to increase defense spending to 1.8% GDP by 2015. Too slow a rate of increase for some perhaps?

Edited December 31, 2013 by citizen33

[binjalin]

No, when a PM puts her family before the country (PM is for ALL Thais), he/she is not fit to govern. In this case the family member is a convicted criminal.

The amnesty not only offered amnesty to the opposition, red shirt leaders but potentially those involved in 25,000 or so cases of corruption. The original amnesty was for the benefit of those charged and/or jailed for minor offences in 2010 and supported by the opposition as well as the relatives of innocent people killed in the riots. It was then changed to ensure her brother was included.

Yes, pardons (not amnesty) are offered to some criminals who have completed a substantial part of their sentences, reductions are given to some of good conduct. Rich crooks either pay bribes (which Thaksin tried to do) or scarper abroad which Thaksin did as well.

do not presume YOU know what and who is 'fit to govern' it is the Thai People's choice not yours nor Suthep's

clearly the vast majority of Thais support her and the PTP - don't believe it? let's see what the elections bring - there are 53 parties to choose from

[tullynagardy]

It doesn't seem like the army has an interest in seizing power. I would also hazard a guess that there are real fears of precipitating a factional split within the army itself if it is seen to favour one side or the other. But with Suthep hell bent on anarchy, the army might have no choice. My guess is that at some point the soldiers will be out on the streets - but only when absolutely forced to it by an actual breakdown of law and social order. Dangerous times ahead.

Great post.

So many of the wannabe yellow shirts on here itching for military intervention don`t seem to grasp that the military isn`t the single bonded unit they`d like to think it is. Due to the fact it makes up a third of the population and woman there tend to have twice as many kids as their Bangkok counterparts, its a safe assumption that at least half of the armys recruits hail from Red Issan. I`m not so sure they would be keen to clear the streets of inevitable red influx following any coup and a split in the army would be a possibility - thats when real civil war territory would be entered.

The Generals know this and seem keen to avoid intervention if at all possible. Once they intervene, unlike before, its clear to see that will be the start of the real violence, not the end. That so many on this forum seem to be willing this scenario suggests extreme naivety or a downright thirst for blood.

[hellodolly]

I was against RTA intervention, but now realise that they just have to 'come out' fix the likes of Benito Suthep and then hand it over to the legally elected government to get on with governing.

Just love you uninformed posters with an ax to grind. There is no legally elected government they stepped down we now have a caretaker government. Which will be replaced on Feb. 2 by a legally elected one.

There is a chance that legally those date for the election might be extended. But we still do not have a legal elected government until after the election.

We do how ever have a abundance of ill informed posters.

[Somtamnication]

I was against RTA intervention, but now realise that they just have to 'come out' fix the likes of Benito Suthep and then hand it over to the legally elected government to get on with governing.

Just love you uninformed posters with an ax to grind. There is no legally elected government they stepped down we now have a caretaker government. Which will be replaced on Feb. 2 by a legally elected one.

There is a chance that legally those date for the election might be extended. But we still do not have a legal elected government until after the election.

We do how ever have a abundance of ill informed posters.

And we have an over abundance of people who think that a new elected government will finish its term. For stability's sake, we need the coup.

[Siripon]

Thailand's army is a joke. If Prayuth and most of his predecessors had lived in Central Africa they would have been involved in mass murder. They always take sides, sometimes they do it themselves, sometimes they lend support to a mass movement that still is a significant minority and sometimes they instruct courts. Prayuth and his cronies are never unbiased.

The Thai army is the root of corruption. Under the democrat governments Thailand's infrastructure was as badly managed as the US's infrastructure under the tea party. All the money went to the military and the military and the politicians got rich.

Under Thaksin the money shifted from the military to infrastructure from airports to roads and bridges and the politicians still got rich.

I rather prefer the latter form of corruption.

priceless...

Worthless.

Under Yingluck this year a record number of generals were appointed. The budget for the army was plentiful.Got to suck up to the generals to get Thaksin's pardon- it nearly worked, but not quite...... 55555

Regarding managing infrastructure - you can't do worse than the flood management scheme this year, devoid of transparency and community participation, Minister Plodprasop and his government officials were hounded from nearly every venue.

And as for the 2 trillion baht loan, putting Thailand in debt for 50 years, as clear as mud!

and as fo

[gbswales]

Game over, then.

There's deffo gonna be a military coup.

Orwell was right (he's always right).

Doublespeak as in "I cannot foresee my ever challenging for the leadership" whenever a politician is asked if he/she wants to be the boss.

Not so fast: As I recall, in one of his Wartime Diaries I-V, Orwell expressed the view that Gandhi's non-violent protests presented no great threat to British rule as they would ultimately prove ineffective against military force. I'm not saying he was wrong about this, I'm just saying we will never know if he was right.

The difference is that Ghandi had the support of the poor majority in India - something that is essential for peaceful protest to work. The Dems do not have national popular support

[gbswales]

I was against RTA intervention, but now realise that they just have to 'come out' fix the likes of Benito Suthep and then hand it over to the legally elected government to get on with governing.

Just love you uninformed posters with an ax to grind. There is no legally elected government they stepped down we now have a caretaker government. Which will be replaced on Feb. 2 by a legally elected one.

There is a chance that legally those date for the election might be extended. But we still do not have a legal elected government until after the election.

We do how ever have a abundance of ill informed posters.

And we have an over abundance of people who think that a new elected government will finish its term. For stability's sake, we need the coup.

Where is this over abundance of people - I will tell you where - in and around Bangkok - if you look at Thailand as a whole country I am sure that the over abundance would be the current governments supporters. The question is why do they enjoy such support? I came across this paragraph from a referenced article that sums it up -

"They say Thaksin has effectively manipulated a fragile democracy by buying the support of the rural poor with populist policies such as cheap healthcare, easy credit and subsidies for rice farmers. Many poor voters say Thaksin was the first leader to actually keep election promises to help them."

Introducing populist policies is seen as vote buying! Has it never occurred to the Democrats (if you can call them that) that they are in an even better position to offer and deliver policies that improve the life of the poor in rural Thailand - the reason they wont do this is because the middle>upper classes would see a small reduction in their living standards to help pay for it. The Democrats are like the Tories in the UK and will never do anything against their own supporters no matter how morally right it is.

What Thailand needs is an incorruptible politician, ideally someone with some sort of charisma, who will promote populist policies and keep election promises.

[DGIE]

Thailand's powerful but politicized army sought to ease fears on Monday it might step in to resolve a festering political crisis, while anti-government protesters entrenched positions around Bangkok as they seek to disrupt a February election.

I am excited to see army in action after new year when Suthep and groups will closed the whole Bangkok.

[DrTuner]

A bit strange that betting agencies haven't taken the coup to their lists. Too high a probability, I guess.

[Cnxforever]

I'd say the chances of a coup have gone up a notch but are not yet in the red zone. More deaths, unfortunately, would increase the possibility.

Prayuth (he who must be criticised by red shirt supporters no matter what he says) was only telling the truth when he didn't rule out a coup. It can never be ruled out here.

It is hilarious to see that someone regards a coup as illegal when both the PTP and the protestors have disregarded the law.

In my ten years here the most tranquil time was after the 2006 coup when children were playing on tanks and tourists were being photographed with soldiers and the politicians were sent to the naughty step where we barely heard a peep out of them. It may not be a democratic ideal but neither is Thailand.

After the relentless childish squabbling of the past two years a bit of order in the political classroom would be a blessing. Some homework for the MPs on how to run a country without lying, cheating and thieving wouldn't go amiss either.

.......and you think the Thai armed forces are an honest bunch who are not lying, cheating and thieving??

The Thai armed forces - or better their high ranking officers - have never served the Thai people!

Brainwashed in their academies they are loyal only to themselves and their classmates. They are a private army for the elite and a business enterprise corrupt to the core!

After every coup the country is robbed and nobody dares to talk about it! Officers joining into a coup are secretly compensated with billions in tax payers money - and that is just the beginning because they are never held accountable for anything they do.

The billions which disappear go into "secret military funds" hidden from audits for "national security reasons".

High ranking officers are usually retiring within a year or 2 of a coup because the coup is one last heist on tax payers money to retire filthy rich!

No coup in Thailand has ever been carried out for the reasons given to the public - it was always about political power and the riches gained from it!

Under the disguise of serving the country, king and religion they pretend to hold a higher moral ground then the rest of Thai people when in fact they are just serving themselves and the elite.

To call these people officers is an insult to any "real" officer in the world who serves his country with dedication!

They are nothing but common thieves and not different from the politicians in this country at all!

[hellodolly]

I was against RTA intervention, but now realise that they just have to 'come out' fix the likes of Benito Suthep and then hand it over to the legally elected government to get on with governing.

Err no.

Doesn't work like that. The army and Suthep have the same backers and are essentially on the same side. The plan is for Suthep to undermine the legally elected government and prepare the ground for a coup which is largely done. Pretty much on schedule for 1st or 2nd Jan.

Are you saying all the different groups of citizens were planned and the plan was for them to unite and then Suthep would resign from his Rep. position to lead it. Then on January 1 or 2 the army would stage a coup.

;pve the conspiracy theorists. I wonder what next weeks one will be.

How did Suthep undermine the legally elected government? Looked to me like they did it to themselves with there we don't give a damn about the citizens of Thailand just are selves.Oh of course Thaksin. Suthep came along after different groups of private citizens with no political affiliation said enough is enough.

Look at the increase in corruption despite there commission to fight corruption.

Here is my reference

http://cpi.transparency.org/cpi2013/results/

[hellodolly]

Seems some people here have clue as to what Democratic Election is....if you don't like the one incharge present a canidate we can believe in.....but this nut job that is blocking streets and threating people is a loser, he will never be elected.

Can't say as I recall that he was running.

With your vast experience can you tell me the name of the party he is running in?

To the best of my knowledge Abhist is still the head of the Democrats who are not running and Yingluck is the head of the PTP who are running.

Speaking of nut jobs did you know it was not nice to say things that are not true.

[hellodolly]

Game over, then.

There's deffo gonna be a military coup.

Orwell was right (he's always right).

Doublespeak as in "I cannot foresee my ever challenging for the leadership" whenever a politician is asked if he/she wants to be the boss.

Like to point out the very title of the book 1984 makes him wrong from the start.

I hear that often. other than access to medical help what have they got to show from his years in power. the world was booming and ?Thailand was just riding on it. It had nothing to do with Thaksin. Yes the cheap credit. Thereby increasing their poverty.

I had to laugh at the last paragraph where Yingluck said she would do any thing as long as it is constitutional to ease the situation. So far I have heard that it is constitutional to delay the election and form a committee to look into reform for the Election system and the rest of the Government but she is not willing to step down and do that. After the election which she will probably win she says she will do it. But she has no interest what so ever in reform in the electoral system until she is once a gain in the drivers seat. Some how that does not reassure me. As for a coup not going to happen.Suthep has tried to get the army but they won't even talk to him. But they will set up a meeting between him and Yingluck.

I think we would only see the army get involved if it was to turn into a armed assault on the country such as the red shirts did in 2010. Keeping it peaceful is Suthep's biggest problem particularly when it is easy for some one to infiltrate them and cause a disturbance.

" So far I have heard that it is constitutional to delay the election and form a committee to look into reform for the Election system and the rest of the Government but she is not willing to step down and do that."

Oh, really, Dolly, what knowledgeable person did you hear that from, suthep? Would you care to tell what article/section of the constitution allows you to blockade election candidate registration centres, or, come to that, shutdown the capital city until a self decreed saviour of democracy gets what he wants? Let's face it, Dolly, you just nail your colours to the mast of anyone who is against Thaksin.

fab fab still rewriting posts to prove some elusive thing. Probably that Thaksin and his Clone are saints or some other unlikely thing. I have no idea. Have you checked out the

http://cpi.transparency.org/cpi2013/results/

file yet.

The EC is my source for delaying the election. The last I heard they were not entirely sure that it was constitutional. Of course they are not as familiar with the constitution as you. Why don't you offer them your knowledge. I guess that is not a topic in red shirt bar's.

Before you post research what you are posting and then you will be able to understand things better. I never did say it was OK to blockade election candidate registration centers in fact I have said I am against it. As for shutting Bangkok down the last I heard it was still open and I for one highly doubt it will be shut down. Care to tell me where you got the information that Bangkok was shut down?

I am for any one currently on the scene against Thaksin. There may be some coming up that I would not be for but they would have to be really bad. Leave the corruption aside and look at the number of innocent murders in his crack down on drugs. One that has obviously failed as any body with the sense God/Buddha/Allah gave a goose could have told him. Look at the mess he encouraged and paid for in Bangkok in 2010. If Suthep was as bad as you would like us to believe and he was running I would back him. He how ever is not running he is trying at the moment to reform the government some thing Yingluck agrees needs doing but she was to busy trying to white wash her brother to do it. But now that she has had to put that on hold for 6 months and she has a gun to her head she is going to look into it. After she is elected which as I have said often enough will probably be the result of the election.

Another election promise. Why not reform the electio0n procedures before the election. Any thing it would stop the PTP from doing it would stop any one else from doing it. What is the problem?

In the mean time have a Happy New Year.

[englishoak]

Yawn, have a happy new year

[wellred]

Hi all if there is a coup will flights still operate internationally into Bkk? I'm supposed to be arriving next Thursday and then getting a Bangkok airways flight into Phuket the same day.

What happened in 2010 with flights?

[15Peter20]

It's like this. Picture a family. The older son does the parent's bidding to keep them sweet. Then he uses the endorsement of his parents plus the fact that he is bigger than the younger sons to bully the younger sons into doing what he wants based firstly on what his parents want to achieve and secondly on his own self interest.

The younger sons are the political parties of Thailand, including the ruling one at any given time. The older son is the army. The rest you will have to figure out for yourself. It has been this way for many many years.

Edited December 31, 2013 by 15Peter20

[SebD]

Game over, then.

There's deffo gonna be a military coup.

Orwell was right (he's always right).

Doublespeak as in "I cannot foresee my ever challenging for the leadership" whenever a politician is asked if he/she wants to be the boss.

Like to point out the very title of the book 1984 makes him wrong from the start.

I hear that often. other than access to medical help what have they got to show from his years in power. the world was booming and ?Thailand was just riding on it. It had nothing to do with Thaksin. Yes the cheap credit. Thereby increasing their poverty.

I had to laugh at the last paragraph where Yingluck said she would do any thing as long as it is constitutional to ease the situation. So far I have heard that it is constitutional to delay the election and form a committee to look into reform for the Election system and the rest of the Government but she is not willing to step down and do that. After the election which she will probably win she says she will do it. But she has no interest what so ever in reform in the electoral system until she is once a gain in the drivers seat. Some how that does not reassure me. As for a coup not going to happen.Suthep has tried to get the army but they won't even talk to him. But they will set up a meeting between him and Yingluck.

I think we would only see the army get involved if it was to turn into a armed assault on the country such as the red shirts did in 2010. Keeping it peaceful is Suthep's biggest problem particularly when it is easy for some one to infiltrate them and cause a disturbance.

" So far I have heard that it is constitutional to delay the election and form a committee to look into reform for the Election system and the rest of the Government but she is not willing to step down and do that."

Oh, really, Dolly, what knowledgeable person did you hear that from, suthep? Would you care to tell what article/section of the constitution allows you to blockade election candidate registration centres, or, come to that, shutdown the capital city until a self decreed saviour of democracy gets what he wants? Let's face it, Dolly, you just nail your colours to the mast of anyone who is against Thaksin.

fab fab still rewriting posts to prove some elusive thing. Probably that Thaksin and his Clone are saints or some other unlikely thing. I have no idea. Have you checked out the

http://cpi.transparency.org/cpi2013/results/

file yet.

The EC is my source for delaying the election. The last I heard they were not entirely sure that it was constitutional. Of course they are not as familiar with the constitution as you. Why don't you offer them your knowledge. I guess that is not a topic in red shirt bar's.

Before you post research what you are posting and then you will be able to understand things better. I never did say it was OK to blockade election candidate registration centers in fact I have said I am against it. As for shutting Bangkok down the last I heard it was still open and I for one highly doubt it will be shut down. Care to tell me where you got the information that Bangkok was shut down?

I am for any one currently on the scene against Thaksin. There may be some coming up that I would not be for but they would have to be really bad. Leave the corruption aside and look at the number of innocent murders in his crack down on drugs. One that has obviously failed as any body with the sense God/Buddha/Allah gave a goose could have told him. Look at the mess he encouraged and paid for in Bangkok in 2010. If Suthep was as bad as you would like us to believe and he was running I would back him. He how ever is not running he is trying at the moment to reform the government some thing Yingluck agrees needs doing but she was to busy trying to white wash her brother to do it. But now that she has had to put that on hold for 6 months and she has a gun to her head she is going to look into it. After she is elected which as I have said often enough will probably be the result of the election.

Another election promise. Why not reform the electio0n procedures before the election. Any thing it would stop the PTP from doing it would stop any one else from doing it. What is the problem?

In the mean time have a Happy New Year.

Just define "reform" as in "reform the election procedures".

You never know, I/we might just be willing to give it a whirl if only you and the "Democrat Party" would actually say what you mean by the much trotted-out word "reform".

All for an even playing field, me (having been indoctrinated with the British sense of fair-play and all that).

[SebD]

Hi all if there is a coup will flights still operate internationally into Bkk? I'm supposed to be arriving next Thursday and then getting a Bangkok airways flight into Phuket the same day.

What happened in 2010 with flights?

I think they were all shot down (joke).

It all depends on whether or not transport is disrupted. Who can say? You should be covered by insurance though, in any case.

Happy New Year (and stop worrying. What will be will be and even at its worst, Thailand is still gonna probably be a better place to be than where you're arriving from).

Life will go on (pretty much as normal) in the Land of Smiles, I'd hazard.

[wellred]

Forget insurance this is my bloomin holiday I'm talking about here. Serious biz.