Thai students gather to join 'last fight' for reform: January 13

[fab4]

Starting to sound more like October 1976, when the students joined the demonstrations against the government. Than like now the PM has ordered the military to control the demonstrations. I just hope the results are not the same.

I think you need to read a lot more about the background to the Thammarsat University massacre before you insult the memory of those students any further by comparing the situation then to these "students" hanging around suthep now, no matter how much they declare their "independance".

Its a clear sign when student join protests.. only reds will try to deny it. You confirmed what i thought.

And it's a clear sign that you do not know the background to the events of 1976.

[Centrum]

They want to reform the country? OK, they should understand the issues first, so it would be good to require all of them to spend a year in the countryside, working alongside ordinary people, so that their perspective becomes clearer. Maybe the leaders can volunteer.

Taking a leaf out of the Pol Pot song book, eh?

[Emptyset]

One thing in Thai culture I've never understood .. the Universities, especially tech ones, seem to have constant violent clashes with each other. If they take that to the streets ..

And, of couse, they have been to the forefront of nearly every violent incident that's happened this time round. I actually do applaud the way most of these marches and demonstrations have been organised - good natured and free from violence. The students, however, are a law to themselves and will ensure that Jan 13th will be marred by violence and deaths.

Yeah, true, although the NSPRT (or KPT as they're generally known to Thais) aren't exactly the same as the students discussed in this article. A lot of them aren't actually students, for one thing. It's basically the reformed PAD. Question is, to what extent is this 'militant fringe' of the anti-govt movement autonomous, and to what extent is it part of a wider plan to provoke a clash?

It's difficult say. On the one hand, you suspect it may all be coordinated, but on the other, you can't rule out hardcore groups deciding on their own course of action. It's probably somewhere in-between.

See 'Mr Suthep, the road ahead is empty for you' by the deputy editor of the Bangkok Post btw. She's a moderate who joined the anti-amnesty march with Suthep but now realizes the game plan is to provoke violent chaos. Surely other moderates must be thinking the same?

Edited January 7, 2014 by Emptyset

[geriatrickid]

They want to reform the country? OK, they should understand the issues first, so it would be good to require all of them to spend a year in the countryside, working alongside ordinary people, so that their perspective becomes clearer. Maybe the leaders can volunteer.

That worked so well in China. Next you will be calling for a Khmer Rouge style Year Zero, kill all those smarty-pants intellectuals.

It is actually an excellent suggestion and nowhere close to the exaggeration you suggest.

In the UK many students take the gap year to volunteer on social assistance projects. In North America, a great many students take some of their vacation time to volunteer with various groups such as Habitat for Humanity. Thailand doesn't have much of a student volunteer force. Sure, they might go on one of the obligatory clean a wat day excursions, but one doesn't see the law students offering the legal clinics as they do elsewhere. Do the engineering or technical students ever go out into a rural village and build or refurbish a school or even help with an irrigation system or sanitation setup? I believe that this is one of Thailand's big "root" problems, a disconnect from those who are less fortunate. How many of you naysayers have seen university students active in social outreach projects? These students exclaiming their nationalist statements and their "love" of Thailand is hypocritical nonsense. If they had any pride in their nation, they wouldn't sit on their backsides while the USN personnel show up and build schools at the US navy personnel's own expense. Surely, some of these kids could take 100 baht from their cosmetic and hair gel money and spend it on something more worthwhile. With the exception of the wildlife biology and public health faculties, I haven't seen anything of substance from the university student associations. It's all "social" events intended to give a party or fashion show or other such tripe.

I learnt a great deal from my volunteer activity at university and it was an important part of my education. I learnt that there are people out there who are affected by my actions and that I could make a constructive contribution. This is something too many of the selfish students of Thailand just don't get.

[geriatrickid]

They want to reform the country? OK, they should understand the issues first, so it would be good to require all of them to spend a year in the countryside, working alongside ordinary people, so that their perspective becomes clearer. Maybe the leaders can volunteer.

Taking a leaf out of the Pol Pot song book, eh?

That has no relationship and you would know that if you had been a university student in the west or in developed Asia, and were aware of all of the volunteer activities sponsored by their respective university student associations.

Edited January 7, 2014 by geriatrickid

[Scamper]

It is good to see students involved. The young of any country are its way forward. And it is also good to hear that particular student quoted as saying that it doesn't matter if ultimately a Pheu Thai government is elected. As indeed it is not. But reform must indeed come first. And although it's noteworthy that any party that happens to be in power will also naturally be more reluctant about any real reform that challenges the gravy train of party power, it is clearly what must be done. Ideally, political reform might coalesce around a recent business-leaders initiative - whereby neither Pheu Thai nor the Democratic party could have majority sway over the reforms, as the other third would be composed of non-partisan sectors of society. If reform is perceived as being more partial to one party over another, it will collapse. Once reform is agreed to under such a format, elections are much more likely to be respected and to take place peacefully. But right now, there is enormous wide-spread suspicion that politics is massively corrupted towards perpetual, monopolized party power. And it just so happens - that suspicion is well-founded.

[Emptyset]

Starting to sound more like October 1976, when the students joined the demonstrations against the government. Than like now the PM has ordered the military to control the demonstrations. I just hope the results are not the same.

I think you need to read a lot more about the background to the Thammarsat University massacre before you insult the memory of those students any further by comparing the situation then to these "students" hanging around suthep now, no matter how much they declare their "independance".

Its a clear sign when student join protests.. only reds will try to deny it. You confirmed what i thought.

And it's a clear sign that you do not know the background to the events of 1976.

Yep. In the 70s there were far fewer university students, and especially at Thammasat, most were radicals of one stripe or another, whether it be democratic or socialist. Now you have students of all stripes, royalist, conservative, red, yellow, liberal or some mixture but probably still mostly apathetic when it comes to protest. So the comparisons are pretty meaningless.

People actually involved in the incident are on both sides now, but if one considers the currents running through Suthep's movement, particularly the mixture of royalism, moralism and nationalism, they bear more resemblance with those who attacked the Thammasat students (including technical school toughs) than the other side. Like I say though, I wouldn't overplay this because times have changed, but the comparison is one you'll notice red shirt sympathisers draw on a lot in social media.

There's one cartoonist on FB very popular with younger more educated red shirts who drew a comparison between the student group at Ramkhamhaeng attacking the bus with the chair, and the infamous chair picture from Thammasat (which was on the cover of the Dead Kennedys single - Holiday in Cambodia). Anyway, I think Tom meant 73, not 76, but he's still wrong...

Edited January 7, 2014 by Emptyset

[kingalfred]

They want to reform the country? OK, they should understand the issues first, so it would be good to require all of them to spend a year in the countryside, working alongside ordinary people, so that their perspective becomes clearer. Maybe the leaders can volunteer.

- ahh father jack been on the juice this morning

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Edited January 7, 2014 by kingalfred

[JRSoul]

They want to reform the country? OK, they should understand the issues first, so it would be good to require all of them to spend a year in the countryside, working alongside ordinary people, so that their perspective becomes clearer. Maybe the leaders can volunteer.

That worked so well in China. Next you will be calling for a Khmer Rouge style Year Zero, kill all those smarty-pants intellectuals.

It is actually an excellent suggestion and nowhere close to the exaggeration you suggest.

In the UK many students take the gap year to volunteer on social assistance projects. In North America, a great many students take some of their vacation time to volunteer with various groups such as Habitat for Humanity. Thailand doesn't have much of a student volunteer force. Sure, they might go on one of the obligatory clean a wat day excursions, but one doesn't see the law students offering the legal clinics as they do elsewhere. Do the engineering or technical students ever go out into a rural village and build or refurbish a school or even help with an irrigation system or sanitation setup? I believe that this is one of Thailand's big "root" problems, a disconnect from those who are less fortunate. How many of you naysayers have seen university students active in social outreach projects? These students exclaiming their nationalist statements and their "love" of Thailand is hypocritical nonsense. If they had any pride in their nation, they wouldn't sit on their backsides while the USN personnel show up and build schools at the US navy personnel's own expense. Surely, some of these kids could take 100 baht from their cosmetic and hair gel money and spend it on something more worthwhile. With the exception of the wildlife biology and public health faculties, I haven't seen anything of substance from the university student associations. It's all "social" events intended to give a party or fashion show or other such tripe.

I learnt a great deal from my volunteer activity at university and it was an important part of my education. I learnt that there are people out there who are affected by my actions and that I could make a constructive contribution. This is something too many of the selfish students of Thailand just don't get.

You did notice the word "required" in the post? How does this work struggling to pay fees, for those from the country for whom it would be a waste of time, or those studying complex subjects where intensive revision would be required before restarting? What is to stop the rich and influential bypassing it?

And if it is still a good idea, wouldn't the recipients of such a scheme benefit more from graduates?

[rijb]

And many of the 'old elites' are as out of touch with the rest of world as the young 'Einsteins' who believe everything they read/hear on the internet...

Nothing you said makes any sense. Who are the old elites and how are they out of touch with reality? Who are the young Einsteins who believe everything they read on the internet? You've made a ridiculous blanket assumption about the whole spectrum of Thai society.

Please contrast and compare with a few details.

Not sure I can help you. Google recommends this website for you. http://www.readingassessment.info/resources/publications/mentalretardation.htm

[Mrgk]

Ideally, political reform might coalesce around a recent business-leaders initiative - whereby neither Pheu Thai nor the Democratic party could have majority sway over the reforms, as the other third would be composed of non-partisan sectors of society. If reform is perceived as being more partial to one party over another, it will collapse. Once reform is agreed to under such a format, elections are much more likely to be respected and to take place peacefully. But right now, there is enormous wide-spread suspicion that politics is massively corrupted towards perpetual, monopolized party power. And it just so happens - that suspicion is well-founded.

"Reform" that takes place following a coup (which is the only way in which Suthep´s "reforms" are ever taking place) will naturally not be "respected" by anyone currently at the wrong end of the gun. That supporters of "reform*" delude themselves into thinking otherwise is not to their credit.

*I.e. coup supporters

Edited January 7, 2014 by Mrgk

[Maha Sarakham Marty]

They want to reform the country? OK, they should understand the issues first, so it would be good to require all of them to spend a year in the countryside, working alongside ordinary people, so that their perspective becomes clearer. Maybe the leaders can volunteer.

Taking a leaf out of the Pol Pot song book, eh?

It certainly sounds like a tune Pol Pot would like.

[Maha Sarakham Marty]

One thing in Thai culture I've never understood .. the Universities, especially tech ones, seem to have constant violent clashes with each other. If they take that to the streets ..

And, of couse, they have been to the forefront of nearly every violent incident that's happened this time round. I actually do applaud the way most of these marches and demonstrations have been organised - good natured and free from violence. The students, however, are a law to themselves and will ensure that Jan 13th will be marred by violence and deaths.

So never mind that NOT ONE tech school is mentioned in the OP, lets denigrate the university students with dishonest statements that they've somehow now become violent tech students.

[Maha Sarakham Marty]

They want to reform the country? OK, they should understand the issues first, so it would be good to require all of them to spend a year in the countryside, working alongside ordinary people, so that their perspective becomes clearer. Maybe the leaders can volunteer.

That worked so well in China. Next you will be calling for a Khmer Rouge style Year Zero, kill all those smarty-pants intellectuals.

It is actually an excellent suggestion and nowhere close to the exaggeration you suggest.

In the UK many students take the gap year to volunteer on social assistance projects. In North America, a great many students take some of their vacation time to volunteer with various groups such as Habitat for Humanity.

In your apples and zucchini comparison, are either of the UK and North American programs "required" as per Prbkk' Pol Pot-ish post states in his "excellent suggestion"?

[Maha Sarakham Marty]

USN personnel show up and build schools at the US navy personnel's own expense.

Just to correct another factually inaccurate statement, humanitarian projects like building schools, by the Navy are financed by the Navy aka taxpayers, and not by the volunteering sailor themselves.

It's also been a long time since the Navy built a school in Thailand.

[khunken]

They want to reform the country? OK, they should understand the issues first, so it would be good to require all of them to spend a year in the countryside, working alongside ordinary people, so that their perspective becomes clearer. Maybe the leaders can volunteer.

That worked so well in China. Next you will be calling for a Khmer Rouge style Year Zero, kill all those smarty-pants intellectuals.

It is actually an excellent suggestion and nowhere close to the exaggeration you suggest.

In the UK many students take the gap year to volunteer on social assistance projects. In North America, a great many students take some of their vacation time to volunteer with various groups such as Habitat for Humanity. Thailand doesn't have much of a student volunteer force. Sure, they might go on one of the obligatory clean a wat day excursions, but one doesn't see the law students offering the legal clinics as they do elsewhere. Do the engineering or technical students ever go out into a rural village and build or refurbish a school or even help with an irrigation system or sanitation setup? I believe that this is one of Thailand's big "root" problems, a disconnect from those who are less fortunate. How many of you naysayers have seen university students active in social outreach projects? These students exclaiming their nationalist statements and their "love" of Thailand is hypocritical nonsense. If they had any pride in their nation, they wouldn't sit on their backsides while the USN personnel show up and build schools at the US navy personnel's own expense. Surely, some of these kids could take 100 baht from their cosmetic and hair gel money and spend it on something more worthwhile. With the exception of the wildlife biology and public health faculties, I haven't seen anything of substance from the university student associations. It's all "social" events intended to give a party or fashion show or other such tripe.

I learnt a great deal from my volunteer activity at university and it was an important part of my education. I learnt that there are people out there who are affected by my actions and that I could make a constructive contribution. This is something too many of the selfish students of Thailand just don't get.

Ah yes - the youth of today. You tell them that and they'd never believe you.

The above is 'blowing my own trumpet' crap. In my area I've seen many students (not sure if secondary or university) on the streets, playing musical instruments, and asking for donations for various current Thai & Asian needs. Building houses for shanty town dwellers, collecting for Fillipino typhoon disaster victims, for a dogs & cats home and other projects that I can't remember.

Sure there are self-centred students worried more about their appearance (just like the youth population as a whole & internationally) but to tar all of them with your (ageist?) brush is just deceitful. Have you any idea how many of the students come from poor families up-country? None I'd guess & neither do I have that information.

Do you actually know that no students are doing what you posit? Again, I'll bet you don't. It doesn't make headlines.

Now, because some students are actually getting involved in Thai politics - a good start in any country - you denigrate them because they are not prepared to kow-tow to the Shin dynasty.

I applaud them and wish them every success in helping to shape their country's cleaner future.

[MrSlatersParrot]

The many comments on here about the "amart" and the "elite" are shot out of the water now.

The rubber farmers, the students, government workers, civil servants, many workers organisations and unions and now rice farmers are all on the offensive with the government

Yes it's true - there are many ordinary people with grievances against this government. But if you believe that sections of the amaat aren't operating behind the scenes - funding it - and trying to manipulate this for their own gain then you've misunderstood the situation. This was their plan all along. Of course, the emotion & connection to the movement that people feel is real, and things take on a life of their own, no doubt about that...

It's not as simple as saying it's all an elite plot, but you can't remove that side of the things from the equation either. It's like those who said that the red shirts in 2010 had nothing to do with Thaksin. That it was an entirely spontaneous mass uprising. That view was shot down here. The sentiment was real and the majority of protesters believed in what they were doing, but it doesn't mean that Thaksin wasn't funding it and trying to manipulate events.

I don't disagree at all Empty... Certainly we know that any stable political system here is a long way down the road, if ever. I can't see any cultural upheaval happening here and certainly the culture of a country is what defines the law of the land. What I've seen in the Red Shirts and the current anti government protests is that neither side can be ignored by any standing government. However, what I'm really saying is that any meaningful resolution between the two can't be achieved because of cultural inundation.

Yep. And neither side can be totally crushed by the other either. I hope a democratic compromise can be reached without violence, but everyone seems to be betting on violence now, so...

The system is rigged.

The dems as in 2006 refuse an election.

Today in the courts we're reminded that to contest the southern seats in 2006 thaksin's party had to revert to subterfuge by having chart thai Patthana run against them so they didn't need the 20% threshold,

Only problem for 30,000 baht EC official had to falsify to 90 days candidates registration in order for the election to go ahead.

Samak's government lasted 10 months until all mps were banned because of the 30,000 baht bribe and Abhisit' coalition formed with alledged payments of 40 million baht per Newin group mp to cross the floor.

Some democracy

This time mobs block candidates in the south from registering . This time there are parties to contest the dem's ex-seats.

Effectively the minority get to rule when they take their ball away.

Now they the dems wait in the wings for the majority government to be pushed aside and then to be shooed back in after a period of what will be martial law under the "people's council"

[Robby nz]

Read the bit in the BP this morning about the end of Sutheps road and agree up to a point.

He has taken this as far as he can and it now needs someone to step in and bring everything together to start a meaningful reform process.

Even the reds believe there needs to be reforms, there will be differences as to just what is needed but there will also be common ground.

For instance, there would be few who would argue that corruption should not be tackled, that education needs improvement, that the law should be implemented equally for all, not one law for the rich and one for the poor.

If common ground is found and tackled first then trust will be built.

Who the one will be to bring people together is up in the air at present as every group are saying 'let the others do it' and of course reforms are against the interests of PT and their controller.

Anyone who believes that reforms can be left till after an election and someone is in POWER is fooling themselves.

There would be endless talkfests, committees and piles of bull and in the end none of the really important things would be tackled.

All of which could only lead to more trouble.

As far as a coup goes: there is no way Suthep needs of wants a coup.

Take a real look at the present situation, who is it who is perpetration the violence, the shootings most nights and now a petrol bomb attack last night.

A third hand , I don't think so, a second is more likely.

I will tell you this for nothing, if Suthep even suggested a coup most of those protesting would walk out pronto.

The vast majority are not there for Suthep they are there for what needs to be done for the good of the country

Look who is it who is courting the army and out asking for their help, come on be on our side please, help us get rid of the protesters.

The one who needs a coup is Thaksin there is now no way he can ever come back without major strife like a civil war that will leave a vacuum, then he can come back as the peacemaker who reunites the country.

The weapons of the armed faction of the reds in 2010 are still out there and there will be those who are willing and able to use them, again.

He has shown in the past that peoples lives mean nothing to him and he will do anything to achieve power.

[tomross46]

The many comments on here about the "amart" and the "elite" are shot out of the water now.

The rubber farmers, the students, government workers, civil servants, many workers organisations and unions and now rice farmers are all on the offensive with the government

You also forgot the senior citizens, which have not received their monthly tuppence for five months. The money went into someones pocket,

[DLock]

Smart students know that you can't have any success with a "people's council" and reform before elected leadership. Thai students should know better.

Your wrong.

Did you mean "you're wrong"?

In which case you're wrong.

[tingtongteesood]

So if Yingluck wins at the next election that is uite suitable and then he mentions that she has to go. Well done, your a very educated group of students. By the way, reform does not happen overnight, rather years of stabilitiy, rule of law being up held and democracy being adhered to. Guys your not exactly doing this, or have you not been told this by your Lecturer as yet?

Try using some common sense, they misquoted him. It should have read :

"If the Pheu Thai Party wins and becomes the government after completing the country's reform, that would be acceptable. But not now before REFORMS," he said. He was saying reform must happen before an election, if after reforms PT still win then so be it. At least it would be under a clean start, as opposed to now where the 300 cronies banned in the past for electoral fraud will only try and commit fraud again for their dear beloved fugitive leader..

And as for the rule of law, why don't you advise your beloved PT party mr. red twit that the law applies to them too whether they like it or not ?! ALWAYS, not just when it suits them. They broke the law and denounced the rule of the law of the constitutional court. Government of criminals and retards. They have to go.

[khunken]

Read the bit in the BP this morning about the end of Sutheps road and agree up to a point.

He has taken this as far as he can and it now needs someone to step in and bring everything together to start a meaningful reform process.

Even the reds believe there needs to be reforms, there will be differences as to just what is needed but there will also be common ground.

For instance, there would be few who would argue that corruption should not be tackled, that education needs improvement, that the law should be implemented equally for all, not one law for the rich and one for the poor.

If common ground is found and tackled first then trust will be built.

Who the one will be to bring people together is up in the air at present as every group are saying 'let the others do it' and of course reforms are against the interests of PT and their controller.

Anyone who believes that reforms can be left till after an election and someone is in POWER is fooling themselves.

There would be endless talkfests, committees and piles of bull and in the end none of the really important things would be tackled.

All of which could only lead to more trouble.

As far as a coup goes: there is no way Suthep needs of wants a coup.

Take a real look at the present situation, who is it who is perpetration the violence, the shootings most nights and now a petrol bomb attack last night.

A third hand , I don't think so, a second is more likely.

I will tell you this for nothing, if Suthep even suggested a coup most of those protesting would walk out pronto.

The vast majority are not there for Suthep they are there for what needs to be done for the good of the country

Look who is it who is courting the army and out asking for their help, come on be on our side please, help us get rid of the protesters.

The one who needs a coup is Thaksin there is now no way he can ever come back without major strife like a civil war that will leave a vacuum, then he can come back as the peacemaker who reunites the country.

The weapons of the armed faction of the reds in 2010 are still out there and there will be those who are willing and able to use them, again.

He has shown in the past that peoples lives mean nothing to him and he will do anything to achieve power.

That's a very good summation of the current status.

A go-between trusted by both sides (difficult but not impossible to find) is needed to get Suthep & a nominee of Thaksin to hold peacemaking talks that provides a written pact - signed by all three - is my 2 satangs worth.

[newcomer71]

Read the bit in the BP this morning about the end of Sutheps road and agree up to a point.

He has taken this as far as he can and it now needs someone to step in and bring everything together to start a meaningful reform process.

Even the reds believe there needs to be reforms, there will be differences as to just what is needed but there will also be common ground.

For instance, there would be few who would argue that corruption should not be tackled, that education needs improvement, that the law should be implemented equally for all, not one law for the rich and one for the poor.

If common ground is found and tackled first then trust will be built.

Who the one will be to bring people together is up in the air at present as every group are saying 'let the others do it' and of course reforms are against the interests of PT and their controller.

Anyone who believes that reforms can be left till after an election and someone is in POWER is fooling themselves.

There would be endless talkfests, committees and piles of bull and in the end none of the really important things would be tackled.

All of which could only lead to more trouble.

As far as a coup goes: there is no way Suthep needs of wants a coup.

Take a real look at the present situation, who is it who is perpetration the violence, the shootings most nights and now a petrol bomb attack last night.

A third hand , I don't think so, a second is more likely.

I will tell you this for nothing, if Suthep even suggested a coup most of those protesting would walk out pronto.

The vast majority are not there for Suthep they are there for what needs to be done for the good of the country

Look who is it who is courting the army and out asking for their help, come on be on our side please, help us get rid of the protesters.

The one who needs a coup is Thaksin there is now no way he can ever come back without major strife like a civil war that will leave a vacuum, then he can come back as the peacemaker who reunites the country.

The weapons of the armed faction of the reds in 2010 are still out there and there will be those who are willing and able to use them, again.

He has shown in the past that peoples lives mean nothing to him and he will do anything to achieve power.

That's a very good summation of the current status.

A go-between trusted by both sides (difficult but not impossible to find) is needed to get Suthep & a nominee of Thaksin to hold peacemaking talks that provides a written pact - signed by all three - is my 2 satangs worth.

I would love to see that too. To put an end to a bitter situation. But I really see too much hatred on the two sides, that makes this solution very very hard to become true. Sadly,

[Mackie]

Read the bit in the BP this morning about the end of Sutheps road and agree up to a point.

He has taken this as far as he can and it now needs someone to step in and bring everything together to start a meaningful reform process.

Even the reds believe there needs to be reforms, there will be differences as to just what is needed but there will also be common ground.

For instance, there would be few who would argue that corruption should not be tackled, that education needs improvement, that the law should be implemented equally for all, not one law for the rich and one for the poor.

If common ground is found and tackled first then trust will be built.

Who the one will be to bring people together is up in the air at present as every group are saying 'let the others do it' and of course reforms are against the interests of PT and their controller.

Anyone who believes that reforms can be left till after an election and someone is in POWER is fooling themselves.

There would be endless talkfests, committees and piles of bull and in the end none of the really important things would be tackled.

All of which could only lead to more trouble.

As far as a coup goes: there is no way Suthep needs of wants a coup.

Take a real look at the present situation, who is it who is perpetration the violence, the shootings most nights and now a petrol bomb attack last night.

A third hand , I don't think so, a second is more likely.

I will tell you this for nothing, if Suthep even suggested a coup most of those protesting would walk out pronto.

The vast majority are not there for Suthep they are there for what needs to be done for the good of the country

Look who is it who is courting the army and out asking for their help, come on be on our side please, help us get rid of the protesters.

The one who needs a coup is Thaksin there is now no way he can ever come back without major strife like a civil war that will leave a vacuum, then he can come back as the peacemaker who reunites the country.

The weapons of the armed faction of the reds in 2010 are still out there and there will be those who are willing and able to use them, again.

He has shown in the past that peoples lives mean nothing to him and he will do anything to achieve power.

That's a very good summation of the current status.

A go-between trusted by both sides (difficult but not impossible to find) is needed to get Suthep & a nominee of Thaksin to hold peacemaking talks that provides a written pact - signed by all three - is my 2 satangs worth.

I believe there was a pact in 2010. It is easy for you or anyone else to see which side broke the agreement. The amnesty bill. And once again, they had the opportunity to diffuse the political situation and schedule the election some time in May 2014 or later. But no. They scheduled it for the beginning of February which falls within Chinese New Year celebration when many Thais travel around the country with their families. Bangkokians especially. It is obvious that the current incompetent government has done absolutely nothing to find a compromise.

[spirit47]

Good, the students bringing a fresh air in the discussion, Im boring about the dinosaurs here and in politics, only repeat, like a cow digest the grass. Without students, the USA would still fighting in Vietnam. We would never have the famous times of "Flower-Power". Students are the future, and we should hope, they make it better than us. In times of NSA, financial collapse and Guantanamo, we should more think about: "Shit not only happen, we failed to stop them".

[Tim1980]

May be they have different dictionary in Thailand, wonder if this might help that economic (ego-nomic) student.

de·moc·ra·cy

noun

1.

a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives.

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