Shutdown Bangkok campaign stirs much comment, debate

[webfact]

LIKE IT, SHARE IT
Shutdown Bangkok campaign stirs much comment, debate
Kornchanok Raksaseri
@AIM_NT
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Like many times before, after Suthep Thaugsuban, the People's Democratic Reform Committee secretary-general, announced the next mass rally, social media users began campaigns to support their stances - support, oppose, or else, you could say.

On Suthep Thaugsuban's Facebook page, the post on the appointment of January 13 as "Bangkok Shutdown day" drew over 12,000 comments, both for and against.

People who disagree with the mass rally started a campaign, "Turn on headlights against the crisis. Oppose Bangkok shutdown."

On December 28, a page "Enough! Stop the protest that instigates conditions leading to violence" was set up by YaBasta Thailand group. The page posted pictures from the group's rally and candle lighting activity at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre on December 27 and invited people to gather again yesterday. It also campaigned for people to "open up and go voting".

Meanwhile, the Assembly for the Defence of Democracy has not reacted to Suthep's announcement for a new mass rally. It continues to campaign for the people to go to vote on February 2.

On the other side, the "V for Thailand" Facebook page has told sup?porters to be careful while taking photos. It asked protesters to avoid taking photos of guards to protect them from being targets of attacks later. Meanwhile, they may take photos that can be used as evidence in legal cases.

V for Thailand asked protesters to support drones flown by the media.

Thai Tribune, meanwhile, said simply: "Shut down Bangkok. D-Day January 13 and stay on."

WRN, a Thai language group on Facebook, said in a campaign pic: "Don't think that it is still fine if one individual is missing, please think that we will win only if you join."

Meanwhile, The Nation asked social media users if they agree or disagree with Suthep's call to shut down Bangkok. Here are some answers we got:

On Facebook, Sutee Tuvirat: I am Ok

Buntana Chinta: Not so OK but I will join as it is my duty.

Pockka Pock: No K.

Siriporn Suparuchatakarn: OK, I will join.

Banyong Suwanpong: I'll go (to cover the news)

On Twitter, @FelixQui: Shutting down Bangkok serves solely as deliberate economic terrorism of the Thai people, as was the PAD airport occupation.

@jeffrey_bangkok: bad idea to shut?down. there r others who will be inconvenient. very selfish & lawless.

@pin_floi: A necessary sacrifice to eradicate corruption, abuse of power, bribery, double standards, family mafia "Skype" government, etc. Fighting against corruption, abuse of power, and disrespect for the law is not anti-democratic. It is justice.

@Phuket1943: Obviously vehemently disagree. How can this be termed P Democratic RC. When has shutting down a capital been democratic.

@bigmacth: Even though im against amnesty bills...but I'm also against the shutdown. I believe there are other ways to express our political views ... not by this collateral damage ... not quick as instant noodle.

@KrisKoles: Why would any rational Thai citizen who loves the great capital city of Bangkok want to see it shut down & trashed...

@Pusaha It's not OK. Some Bangkok residents depend on daily wage. Suthep is not responsible for their lives and has no rights to force them to sacrifice.

@gd_ab Not OK. But I won't risk my life with the mob. I can sign my name (against the Bangkok Shutdown).

@RazgrizX: It's not OK. But I won't express (my opposition).

@toyubomm: Bangkok Shutdown, but my company is not shut down. We have to continue working.

Meanwhile, comments and debate on the Friends of The Nation page on Facebook has also been quite hot.


-- The Nation 2014-01-04

[EricBerg]

It's good that people speak out their opinion. That's part of the democratic process.

[Thailand]

It's good that people speak out their opinion. That's part of the democratic process.

So perhaps the Feb2 election could be held via the Nations Facebook page?

[cloghead]

Or...hold the elections here on TVF?

That would be interesting...

[AryanicAristocrat]

Its just simply ridiculous! The stupid Government and even other agencies and businesses are coming up with plans of how to cope with the shutdown! How stupid! Only in Thailand! Reflects what the poeple real;ly are.....lol! Come on.....how the hell can Bangkokians and the authorities concerned allow the capital to be taken hostage by any group be it the Red Shirts, PRDC, Yellow Shirts, Multicoloured Shirts, No Shirts or Shit Shirts. Simply arrest any protesters or shot them on sight and please no later compensations! Enough is enough.....all these red, yellow, PRDC garbage are causing economic problems which the common man on the street will eventually pay for and suffer. All these Thai politicians be it The PTP or the Democarts are all corrupted! Show me one that is not....really! All the protesters are simply stupid to support any faction. To solve the problems....eradicate all Thai politicains and their families and their supporters (including high ranking government servants and top businessman who support them and also their families.)

[Tatsujin]

Its just simply ridiculous! The stupid Government and even other agencies and businesses are coming up with plans of how to cope with the shutdown! How stupid! Only in Thailand! Reflects what the poeple real;ly are.....lol! Come on.....how the hell can Bangkokians and the authorities concerned allow the capital to be taken hostage by any group be it the Red Shirts, PRDC, Yellow Shirts, Multicoloured Shirts, No Shirts or Shit Shirts. Simply arrest any protesters or shot them on sight and please no later compensations! Enough is enough.....all these red, yellow, PRDC garbage are causing economic problems which the common man on the street will eventually pay for and suffer. All these Thai politicians be it The PTP or the Democarts are all corrupted! Show me one that is not....really! All the protesters are simply stupid to support any faction. To solve the problems....eradicate all Thai politicains and their families and their supporters (including high ranking government servants and top businessman who support them and also their families.)

Your solution/suggestion/opinion sounds rather like a policy implemented in a certain Germanic country in the middle of the last century . . . I thought we'd all progressed a little further than that by now, but I guess not all have.

[Emptyset]

Meanwhile, The Nation asked social media users if they agree or disagree with Suthep's call to shut down Bangkok. Here are some answers we got:

On Facebook, Sutee Tuvirat: I am Ok

Buntana Chinta: Not so OK but I will join as it is my duty.

Pockka Pock: No K.

Siriporn Suparuchatakarn: OK, I will join.

Banyong Suwanpong: I'll go (to cover the news)

Well, what fascinating insight...

[noitom]

Its just simply ridiculous! The stupid Government and even other agencies and businesses are coming up with plans of how to cope with the shutdown! How stupid! Only in Thailand! Reflects what the poeple real;ly are.....lol! Come on.....how the hell can Bangkokians and the authorities concerned allow the capital to be taken hostage by any group be it the Red Shirts, PRDC, Yellow Shirts, Multicoloured Shirts, No Shirts or Shit Shirts. Simply arrest any protesters or shot them on sight and please no later compensations! Enough is enough.....all these red, yellow, PRDC garbage are causing economic problems which the common man on the street will eventually pay for and suffer. All these Thai politicians be it The PTP or the Democarts are all corrupted! Show me one that is not....really! All the protesters are simply stupid to support any faction. To solve the problems....eradicate all Thai politicains and their families and their supporters (including high ranking government servants and top businessman who support them and also their families.)

Your solution/suggestion/opinion sounds rather like a policy implemented in a certain Germanic country in the middle of the last century . . . I thought we'd all progressed a little further than that by now, but I guess not all have.

More like the Argentine junta of Galtieri and company.

[noitom]

The sub heading here is almost unintelligible.

[DocN]

If I read ONE MORE TIME, that is is someone's "duty" to join because they want to "fight corruption"...I will have to puke!

You only "fight" corruption, when you don't like it!

Next time, a cop stops you, because you were "speeding", driving drunk or driving without helmet...what will you morons do?

"Here officer...take my license, handcuff me and take me to the office..." or "Here officer is my license and ...oh look...accidentally a 100 Baht note is sticking on it....will I miss it, if it is gone, after you hand back the license to and let me go?"

You want to fight corruption? Start with yourself!

You want justice? Well...go and demonstrate for the Red Bull heir, to be brought to justice! Go and and demonstrate for the freedom of "Uncle SMS"...ooops...too late for "justice", I guess!

You don't want "stupid people" to vote?

Well...go and demonstrate for a better education for everybody and never again, you need to care about stupid people, voting!

You are all a bunch of liars and selfish hypocrits.

Thai rak Thai, my @$$!

Edited January 4, 2014 by DocN

[harada]

On a more serious note. at least Herr Suthep has found a way of fixing the overcrowding problem at Swampy,

[JoeThePoster]

@toyubomm: Bangkok Shutdown, but my company is not shut down. We have to continue working.

How selfless is that, yes.

[little mary sunshine]

Close BKK for at least 10 full days, no cars, buses, motorbikes, tuk tuks........Might finally

improve the air quality.....It's starting to look like Beijing.

[FangFerang]

Its just simply ridiculous! The stupid Government and even other agencies and businesses are coming up with plans of how to cope with the shutdown! How stupid! Only in Thailand! Reflects what the poeple real;ly are.....lol! Come on.....how the hell can Bangkokians and the authorities concerned allow the capital to be taken hostage by any group be it the Red Shirts, PRDC, Yellow Shirts, Multicoloured Shirts, No Shirts or Shit Shirts. Simply arrest any protesters or shot them on sight and please no later compensations! Enough is enough.....all these red, yellow, PRDC garbage are causing economic problems which the common man on the street will eventually pay for and suffer. All these Thai politicians be it The PTP or the Democarts are all corrupted! Show me one that is not....really! All the protesters are simply stupid to support any faction. To solve the problems....eradicate all Thai politicains and their families and their supporters (including high ranking government servants and top businessman who support them and also their families.)

A brilliant writer and scientist said, "Anyone who wants to run for office should be automatically barred from the process. Find the man who does not want the job, because he realizes the seriousness of the endeavor."

[Bakseeda]

If I read ONE MORE TIME, that is is someone's "duty" to join because they want to "fight corruption"...I will have to puke!

You only "fight" corruption, when you don't like it!

Next time, a cop stops you, because you were "speeding", driving drunk or driving without helmet...what will you morons do?

"Here officer...take my license, handcuff me and take me to the office..." or "Here officer is my license and ...oh look...accidentally a 100 Baht note is sticking on it....will I miss it, if it is gone, after you hand back the license to and let me go?"

You want to fight corruption? Start with yourself!

You want justice? Well...go and demonstrate for the Red Bull heir, to be brought to justice! Go and and demonstrate for the freedom of "Uncle SMS"...ooops...too late for "justice", I guess!

You don't want "stupid people" to vote?

Well...go and demonstrate for a better education for everybody and never again, you need to care about stupid people, voting!

You are all a bunch of liars and selfish hypocrits.

Thai rak Thai, my @$$!

And now for my next RANT.....

[CIHUAHUA]

It's good that people speak out their opinion. That's part of the democratic process.

So perhaps the Feb2 election could be held via the Nations Facebook page?

Does this post reflect your view of freedom of speech?

[CIHUAHUA]

If I read ONE MORE TIME, that is is someone's "duty" to join because they want to "fight corruption"...I will have to puke!

You only "fight" corruption, when you don't like it!

Next time, a cop stops you, because you were "speeding", driving drunk or driving without helmet...what will you morons do?

"Here officer...take my license, handcuff me and take me to the office..." or "Here officer is my license and ...oh look...accidentally a 100 Baht note is sticking on it....will I miss it, if it is gone, after you hand back the license to and let me go?"

You want to fight corruption? Start with yourself!

You want justice? Well...go and demonstrate for the Red Bull heir, to be brought to justice! Go and and demonstrate for the freedom of "Uncle SMS"...ooops...too late for "justice", I guess!

You don't want "stupid people" to vote?

Well...go and demonstrate for a better education for everybody and never again, you need to care about stupid people, voting!

You are all a bunch of liars and selfish hypocrits.

Thai rak Thai, my @$$!

Did you translate this post into Thai because if not you are preaching to the choir. I agree with you.

[cbluck58]

Its just simply ridiculous! The stupid Government and even other agencies and businesses are coming up with plans of how to cope with the shutdown! How stupid! Only in Thailand! Reflects what the poeple real;ly are.....lol! Come on.....how the hell can Bangkokians and the authorities concerned allow the capital to be taken hostage by any group be it the Red Shirts, PRDC, Yellow Shirts, Multicoloured Shirts, No Shirts or Shit Shirts. Simply arrest any protesters or shot them on sight and please no later compensations! Enough is enough.....all these red, yellow, PRDC garbage are causing economic problems which the common man on the street will eventually pay for and suffer. All these Thai politicians be it The PTP or the Democarts are all corrupted! Show me one that is not....really! All the protesters are simply stupid to support any faction. To solve the problems....eradicate all Thai politicains and their families and their supporters (including high ranking government servants and top businessman who support them and also their families.)

Your solution/suggestion/opinion sounds rather like a policy implemented in a certain Germanic country in the middle of the last century . . . I thought we'd all progressed a little further than that by now, but I guess not all have.

Certainly Suthep has not....

[Ulic]

I just hope the Bangkok elite give credit were credit is due, regarding the economic slow down in

in the capital. Suthep, take a bow. January 13th is just the start of his final push. Not being registered

in the elections there is no plan B. He has to push until the military steps in.

[GazR]

Personally I am swayed to the Reform Before Election side because the most likely consequence of an election now is further entrenchment of a Marcos/Suharto-style political clique behind a democratic facade. And it took people power to get rid of those gangsters, not elections. Really, I find some of the posters here to be so naive.

[sawadee1947]

Its just simply ridiculous! The stupid Government and even other agencies and businesses are coming up with plans of how to cope with the shutdown! How stupid! Only in Thailand! Reflects what the poeple real;ly are.....lol! Come on.....how the hell can Bangkokians and the authorities concerned allow the capital to be taken hostage by any group be it the Red Shirts, PRDC, Yellow Shirts, Multicoloured Shirts, No Shirts or Shit Shirts. Simply arrest any protesters or shot them on sight and please no later compensations! Enough is enough.....all these red, yellow, PRDC garbage are causing economic problems which the common man on the street will eventually pay for and suffer. All these Thai politicians be it The PTP or the Democarts are all corrupted! Show me one that is not....really! All the protesters are simply stupid to support any faction. To solve the problems....eradicate all Thai politicains and their families and their supporters (including high ranking government servants and top businessman who support them and also their families.)

well, I'm angry as you and many/most people in BKK. How can ONE man be allowed to play with a government or police. Is there really nobody to stop him. Why the police CANNOT arrest him? Because of Thainess.....??

[moradave]

"well, I'm angry as you and many/most people in BKK. How can ONE man be allowed to play with a government or police. Is there really nobody to stop him. Why the police CANNOT arrest him? Because of Thainess.....??"

They cannot arrest him because all hell would break loose in Bangkok and the South which might cause the Army to intervene which would cause the Red Shirts to join the fray and then where would we be. Civil war. Better to let him rant and rave.

[tomyummer]

This piece seems to have been written by some high school student with a last minute report due tomorrow on civics. It's all over the place. So many groups with their two cents thrown in it's hard to keep track.

[jackrich]

Education Ministry say that almost 1,000 schools will be affected by the “#BangkokShutdown.” Up to individual schools if they want to close.

That tactic is pretty much in line with Suthep and the elite's policies of keeping the general population as dumb as possible.

[tingtongteesood]

Its just simply ridiculous! The stupid Government and even other agencies and businesses are coming up with plans of how to cope with the shutdown! How stupid! Only in Thailand! Reflects what the poeple real;ly are.....lol! Come on.....how the hell can Bangkokians and the authorities concerned allow the capital to be taken hostage by any group be it the Red Shirts, PRDC, Yellow Shirts, Multicoloured Shirts, No Shirts or Shit Shirts. Simply arrest any protesters or shot them on sight and please no later compensations! Enough is enough.....all these red, yellow, PRDC garbage are causing economic problems which the common man on the street will eventually pay for and suffer. All these Thai politicians be it The PTP or the Democarts are all corrupted! Show me one that is not....really! All the protesters are simply stupid to support any faction. To solve the problems....eradicate all Thai politicains and their families and their supporters (including high ranking government servants and top businessman who support them and also their families.)

well, I'm angry as you and many/most people in BKK. How can ONE man be allowed to play with a government or police. Is there really nobody to stop him. Why the police CANNOT arrest him? Because of Thainess.....??

I was saying the exact same thing in 2010.....