Thailand on the brink

[waza]

I found the article very informative and feel the same - Thailand on the brink - it is different this time to the others. I was here for the 1991 event and remember Suchinda on his face before the King for being responsible for the many deaths. The yellow shirt mob were responsible for many businesses collapsing because of the airport shut down - I had a Guest House and tourists stopped coming. The red shirts had the idea that there could be FAIRNESS for ALL, not just the elite in BKK - the elite still don't understand that BKK isn't Thailand - it's just a small part of the whole which includes the north and the north east with its multi millions.

The 'brink' is nearly here when those southern provinces could easily 'break away' and even the northern provinces could be thinking the same way - I know many who talk this way in the area I live in.

I was with an Indonesia journalist when he interviewed Dr Weng at the red shirt event and was impressed with his answers to every question. The jounalist was from Tempo magazine - highly respected in Indonesia - similar to Time magazine. The theme hasn't changed, FAIRNESS to ALL.

I've followed Thai Visa for years and years but only recently decided to come out of the silent majority to speak because I have found many of the posts offensive, childish, arrogant, pitiful, hurtful, senseless, uninformed and particularly obnoxious those posts that snear at how a person looks - reptilian etc -. This forum is read by thousands and thousands so civility is to be remembered in your public comments.

On the brink and less than a week to go - I love being here and I hope I can say the same in 10 days time

I think most of us would like fairness for all but to suggest that there are eleven million 'elite' voters in Thailand who voted for the Dems last time is pushing it a bit don't you think? And judging from the double digit swing away from PTP in the election for the Bangkok governor if that were to be repeated in a national election the PTP's 4 million vote margin would be compromised even further.

The kingdom has many issues and sadly none of the current politicians have shown any indication that they have the ability to solve them. That is Thailand's dilemma.

Don't think so, I think the elections would be even more of a landslide for the North, the main thing that Suthep has done is to show the true colors of the Dems and what they really think of the people, he has only made them stronger and more determined. He has involved many people who really did not care about the elections or that did not take the time to vote, that will now go vote.

I am sure that you and all your friends believe that hype, but I am afraid Thaksins is aging like a bottle of fine urine, he's getting on the nose and loosing friends hand over fist. Without him the PTP are nothing, they will sell themselves cheaply to any that will take them.

[Thait Spot]

I got as far as "The conflict is being waged between rival factions of the elite, but also on class, ethnic and regional fronts" and it became apparent that the author is a buffoon

[Maseratimartin]

I cannot hear this shit with "democratically elected government"anymore!

They paid the rural volks to vote for them and the undereducated rural volk did not know better...cross here and the next bottle of thai wiskey on the new government.

[chrisinth]

"A rabble-rousing demagogue with a shady background tainted by allegations of corruption, Suthep is hailed as a hero by supporters for his promises to defend the monarchy, tackle graft and clean up government."

With lines like the above, my faith in reporters has just gone up a couple of notches..................

In all honesty, I'm impressed; as close as you can get to the truth on the streets written in this article.

[bkkfaranguy]

I found the article very informative and feel the same - Thailand on the brink - it is different this time to the others. I was here for the 1991 event and remember Suchinda on his face before the King for being responsible for the many deaths. The yellow shirt mob were responsible for many businesses collapsing because of the airport shut down - I had a Guest House and tourists stopped coming. The red shirts had the idea that there could be FAIRNESS for ALL, not just the elite in BKK - the elite still don't understand that BKK isn't Thailand - it's just a small part of the whole which includes the north and the north east with its multi millions.

The 'brink' is nearly here when those southern provinces could easily 'break away' and even the northern provinces could be thinking the same way - I know many who talk this way in the area I live in.

I was with an Indonesia journalist when he interviewed Dr Weng at the red shirt event and was impressed with his answers to every question. The jounalist was from Tempo magazine - highly respected in Indonesia - similar to Time magazine. The theme hasn't changed, FAIRNESS to ALL.

I've followed Thai Visa for years and years but only recently decided to come out of the silent majority to speak because I have found many of the posts offensive, childish, arrogant, pitiful, hurtful, senseless, uninformed and particularly obnoxious those posts that snear at how a person looks - reptilian etc -. This forum is read by thousands and thousands so civility is to be remembered in your public comments.

On the brink and less than a week to go - I love being here and I hope I can say the same in 10 days time

I think most of us would like fairness for all but to suggest that there are eleven million 'elite' voters in Thailand who voted for the Dems last time is pushing it a bit don't you think? And judging from the double digit swing away from PTP in the election for the Bangkok governor if that were to be repeated in a national election the PTP's 4 million vote margin would be compromised even further.

The kingdom has many issues and sadly none of the current politicians have shown any indication that they have the ability to solve them. That is Thailand's dilemma.

Don't think so, I think the elections would be even more of a landslide for the North, the main thing that Suthep has done is to show the true colors of the Dems and what they really think of the people, he has only made them stronger and more determined. He has involved many people who really did not care about the elections or that did not take the time to vote, that will now go vote.

I am sure that you and all your friends believe that hype, but I am afraid Thaksins is aging like a bottle of fine urine, he's getting on the nose and loosing friends hand over fist. Without him the PTP are nothing, they will sell themselves cheaply to any that will take them.

And I am sure thats what you are hoping for, but the reality is that its not about Thaksin, they only vote for the worse of 2 evils. Its no brainer to them; lets see, lets vote for a party that thinks we are stupid and thier slaves as it will be our last vote ever cast if they are elected or vote for someone else. I know one family that only the father voted in the last election, but in the next one all 6 eligable voters will be going to the polls.

Edited January 8, 2014 by bkkfaranguy

[Scamper]

An aimless article that seeks an uneasy mix between reporting and opinion - which never succeeds. As a journalist you have two options - to write a news article which tries to objectify and qualify what is being presented. Or to write an opinion piece, where the writer is free to indulge in whatever their political proclivity happens to be. But a mixture of the two simply turns an opinion piece into something truly dangerous - as a pretext for fact. So let's reflect on this as an opinion piece. There is no question that the writer seeks to take the most unflattering view of the Democratic party, and gives essential lip-service to the criticism of Thaksin. But does the writer honestly feel that this is a functioning democracy ? If so, then perhaps he truly has no idea why the people are on the streets.

[toybits]

Best summary of where Thailand is at Today! Mark Fenn did a good job.

[happynthailand]

Thailand the new hub of "BRINK"

[AlphMichaels]

The thing I see as most unfortunate is in the fact nobody is sitting down to talk. Diametrically opposed or not, you come to the table, lay down your grievances and discuss them, irrespective of the politics. One will slam me for saying that but sometimes partisan politics must be set aside and cooler heads forced to prevail. This has bloomed well beyond political and professional civility.

It would be refreshing to see someone step up and say..., "Let's agree to a cooling down period beginning TODAY, potentially even through end of February, then see where we are in the apparent impasse".

Nobody is going to win on the current situation or as it continues to unfold. Don't see this happening but I wish someone would at least make a good attempt at it.

[harkish]

One of the best summaries of the current situation I have read - relatively unbiased, presenting both sides, capturing the weird aspects of this crisis. Better than anything I have seen in The Post or The Nation. Only one problem, it just doesn't tell me what is going to happen. Will we have a coup next week? Or before Feb 2? Or after? What are the Generals thinking?

[buhi]

The thing I see as most unfortunate is in the fact nobody is sitting down to talk. Diametrically opposed or not, you come to the table, lay down your grievances and discuss them, irrespective of the politics. One will slam me for saying that but sometimes partisan politics must be set aside and cooler heads forced to prevail. This has bloomed well beyond political and professional civility.

It would be refreshing to see someone step up and say..., "Let's agree to a cooling down period beginning TODAY, potentially even through end of February, then see where we are in the apparent impasse".

Nobody is going to win on the current situation or as it continues to unfold. Don't see this happening but I wish someone would at least make a good attempt at it.

But then there is no discussion..........

[longway]

I found the article very informative and feel the same - Thailand on the brink - it is different this time to the others. I was here for the 1991 event and remember Suchinda on his face before the King for being responsible for the many deaths. The yellow shirt mob were responsible for many businesses collapsing because of the airport shut down - I had a Guest House and tourists stopped coming. The red shirts had the idea that there could be FAIRNESS for ALL, not just the elite in BKK - the elite still don't understand that BKK isn't Thailand - it's just a small part of the whole which includes the north and the north east with its multi millions.

The 'brink' is nearly here when those southern provinces could easily 'break away' and even the northern provinces could be thinking the same way - I know many who talk this way in the area I live in.

I was with an Indonesia journalist when he interviewed Dr Weng at the red shirt event and was impressed with his answers to every question. The jounalist was from Tempo magazine - highly respected in Indonesia - similar to Time magazine. The theme hasn't changed, FAIRNESS to ALL.

I've followed Thai Visa for years and years but only recently decided to come out of the silent majority to speak because I have found many of the posts offensive, childish, arrogant, pitiful, hurtful, senseless, uninformed and particularly obnoxious those posts that snear at how a person looks - reptilian etc -. This forum is read by thousands and thousands so civility is to be remembered in your public comments.

On the brink and less than a week to go - I love being here and I hope I can say the same in 10 days time

I think most of us would like fairness for all but to suggest that there are eleven million 'elite' voters in Thailand who voted for the Dems last time is pushing it a bit don't you think? And judging from the double digit swing away from PTP in the election for the Bangkok governor if that were to be repeated in a national election the PTP's 4 million vote margin would be compromised even further.

The kingdom has many issues and sadly none of the current politicians have shown any indication that they have the ability to solve them. That is Thailand's dilemma.

Don't think so, I think the elections would be even more of a landslide for the North, the main thing that Suthep has done is to show the true colors of the Dems and what they really think of the people, he has only made them stronger and more determined. He has involved many people who really did not care about the elections or that did not take the time to vote, that will now go vote.

Its been my private opinion that Suthep is Thaksin's double agent; if anything is designed waverers and people who lost faith with the PT back to voting for them, its Suthep's antics in Bangkok.

Suthep and the PDRC really need to spell out exactly what 'reforms' they hope to carry out and try to make them seem worth achieving, if not, PT could well end up gaining votes from the last election and make these protests look even more ridiculous than they already are; if they can reduce the number of votes for the PT then it can at partly justify their position. Its not the North and NE that is important here, its how people in the central and eastern provinces will vote; if anybody is given a chance to vote that is.

[Just1Voice]

I cannot hear this shit with "democratically elected government"anymore!

They paid the rural volks to vote for them and the undereducated rural volk did not know better...cross here and the next bottle of thai wiskey on the new government.

I'm by NO means a Thaksin or Red Shirt fan, but I cannot hear this shit with - paid the rural to vote for them and the under educated didn't know any better IGNORANT, ELITEST BULLSHIT anymore! Apparently you, like other fools, believe that Thaksin and his parties INVENTED vote buying, instead of accepting the truth that it was around long before Thaksin was little more than a lustful gleam in his father's eye. And I guess it might be safe to assume that you totally missed the interview with Korn, a DEMOCRAT LEADER, who flat out admitted that in the last election, the DEMS SPENT MORE THAT PTP, and they STILL LOST, and that Vote Buying had NOTHING TO DO with the outcome of the vote.

I'll tell you the same thing I tell the Thaksonites and Red Shirts - Clean the tint off your glasses and look at the Real World.

By the way, with the spelling and grammatical errors in YOUR post, you have very little ground to be calling anyone else "under educated".

[longway]

I found the article very informative and feel the same - Thailand on the brink - it is different this time to the others. I was here for the 1991 event and remember Suchinda on his face before the King for being responsible for the many deaths. The yellow shirt mob were responsible for many businesses collapsing because of the airport shut down - I had a Guest House and tourists stopped coming. The red shirts had the idea that there could be FAIRNESS for ALL, not just the elite in BKK - the elite still don't understand that BKK isn't Thailand - it's just a small part of the whole which includes the north and the north east with its multi millions.

The 'brink' is nearly here when those southern provinces could easily 'break away' and even the northern provinces could be thinking the same way - I know many who talk this way in the area I live in.

I was with an Indonesia journalist when he interviewed Dr Weng at the red shirt event and was impressed with his answers to every question. The jounalist was from Tempo magazine - highly respected in Indonesia - similar to Time magazine. The theme hasn't changed, FAIRNESS to ALL.

I've followed Thai Visa for years and years but only recently decided to come out of the silent majority to speak because I have found many of the posts offensive, childish, arrogant, pitiful, hurtful, senseless, uninformed and particularly obnoxious those posts that snear at how a person looks - reptilian etc -. This forum is read by thousands and thousands so civility is to be remembered in your public comments.

On the brink and less than a week to go - I love being here and I hope I can say the same in 10 days time

Yeah, communists have a long tradition in fairness right?

[harkish]

I found the article very informative and feel the same - Thailand on the brink - it is different this time to the others. I was here for the 1991 event and remember Suchinda on his face before the King for being responsible for the many deaths. The yellow shirt mob were responsible for many businesses collapsing because of the airport shut down - I had a Guest House and tourists stopped coming. The red shirts had the idea that there could be FAIRNESS for ALL, not just the elite in BKK - the elite still don't understand that BKK isn't Thailand - it's just a small part of the whole which includes the north and the north east with its multi millions.

The 'brink' is nearly here when those southern provinces could easily 'break away' and even the northern provinces could be thinking the same way - I know many who talk this way in the area I live in.

I was with an Indonesia journalist when he interviewed Dr Weng at the red shirt event and was impressed with his answers to every question. The jounalist was from Tempo magazine - highly respected in Indonesia - similar to Time magazine. The theme hasn't changed, FAIRNESS to ALL.

I've followed Thai Visa for years and years but only recently decided to come out of the silent majority to speak because I have found many of the posts offensive, childish, arrogant, pitiful, hurtful, senseless, uninformed and particularly obnoxious those posts that snear at how a person looks - reptilian etc -. This forum is read by thousands and thousands so civility is to be remembered in your public comments.

On the brink and less than a week to go - I love being here and I hope I can say the same in 10 days time

I think most of us would like fairness for all but to suggest that there are eleven million 'elite' voters in Thailand who voted for the Dems last time is pushing it a bit don't you think? And judging from the double digit swing away from PTP in the election for the Bangkok governor if that were to be repeated in a national election the PTP's 4 million vote margin would be compromised even further.

The kingdom has many issues and sadly none of the current politicians have shown any indication that they have the ability to solve them. That is Thailand's dilemma.

Don't think so, I think the elections would be even more of a landslide for the North, the main thing that Suthep has done is to show the true colors of the Dems and what they really think of the people, he has only made them stronger and more determined. He has involved many people who really did not care about the elections or that did not take the time to vote, that will now go vote.

Its been my private opinion that Suthep is Thaksin's double agent; if anything is designed waverers and people who lost faith with the PT back to voting for them, its Suthep's antics in Bangkok.

Suthep and the PDRC really need to spell out exactly what 'reforms' they hope to carry out and try to make them seem worth achieving, if not, PT could well end up gaining votes from the last election and make these protests look even more ridiculous than they already are; if they can reduce the number of votes for the PT then it can at partly justify their position. Its not the North and NE that is important here, its how people in the central and eastern provinces will vote; if anybody is given a chance to vote that is.

Vote? We don't need no stinking vote. Coup the place, and let the boys in the barracks run free. That is what we will see, not what I hope for. But the signals coming from the Generals are increasingly in line with Suthep's strategy - create enough chaos for the military to justify its intervention. Where that will lead, heaven knows, but a stronger democracy ain't probable. So, once the reforms the BKK folks are pushing for are enacted, who cares how many votes the Reds have - the game will be fully rigged, at least till the protests get big enough, and Thailand continues to struggle along. This will only end when the elites recognize that their feudal dreams are no longer possible, that more of the cake has to be shared and they attempt with their own party to gather more votes through policies that appeal to a broader swath of society.

For a bit of dark humor on the topic, see http://notthenation.com/2014/01/suthep-demands-35-compromise/

[MJP]

If there is a civil war, will Tesco still be open on a Sunday?

[Showbags]

Thailand on the brink

Just like my fridge.

[HUAHIN62]

A well-written piece. It makes me wish Thailand could reform, but not Suthep's way. They need to find a way go sweep away the main protagonists and try to elect those who might engage in non-confrontational politics (at least for a while!) to give the country some time to recover from this turmoil.

But that is western-style thinking..... TiT. ?

you don't get fair elections without reforms first.

What will be fair, a Dem victory?

[CapeCobra]

I have sympathy for the just cause of the poor and uneducated. I can also understand why some Forrest Gumps love this article. The sorry truth, however, is that it is extremely unbalanced, repeating demagogic statements without quoting the sources. Freelance journalists write for a living. PR journalism can be more effective than advertising. That is why it is better paid. The use of the term "truth" should be avoided in this discussion. Believe whatever will make you happy.

[Publicus]

Dont believe he stay in BKK and when, he not going out of the house...Most is right, but the class and the mount of the Protestors are definetly wrong.

And, he not explain, why the people protests...

Nothing about Governments wrongdoing against the constitution

Nothing about corruption going worse

Nothing about the rice pledging scheme...

Nothing about the planned Trillion Bath loan

Nothing about the amnesty bill

So for me, its better than AFP, but far away from good journalism...

“The opposition has been unable to compete in the game of electoral politics and thus chose to play mob politics and provoke violence to overthrow the government,” said Pavin Chachavalpongpun, associate professor at the University of Kyoto’s Center for Southeast Asian Studies

The OP gives us excellent journalism.

For one thing, the OP has the stronger case than if someone sympathetic to Suthep and his feudal council wrote a piece from that opposite point of view or perspective.

It's objectively difficult if not impossible for Suthep's side to write as convincingly, as persuasively or with as much conviction as the OP does if one is arguing instead to cancel a scheduled constitutional election, establish an arbitrarily and summarily appointed feudal council; and is conducting openly declared insurrection in the streets of the capital while all the while having the ultimate motive and purpose of provoking a military mutiny, a coup d'etat.

Who could write convincingly or persuasively in support of such anti-democracy people and their purposes?

A professional writer would have to be an acrobatic scribe to move the needle for Suthep and his insurrectionists in any way similar to the way the OP has accomplished it by just reporting the basics of the present realities.

[HKChris]

I cannot hear this shit with "democratically elected government"anymore!

They paid the rural volks to vote for them and the undereducated rural volk did not know better...cross here and the next bottle of thai wiskey on the new government.

I'm by NO means a Thaksin or Red Shirt fan, but I cannot hear this shit with - paid the rural to vote for them and the under educated didn't know any better IGNORANT, ELITEST BULLSHIT anymore! Apparently you, like other fools, believe that Thaksin and his parties INVENTED vote buying, instead of accepting the truth that it was around long before Thaksin was little more than a lustful gleam in his father's eye. And I guess it might be safe to assume that you totally missed the interview with Korn, a DEMOCRAT LEADER, who flat out admitted that in the last election, the DEMS SPENT MORE THAT PTP, and they STILL LOST, and that Vote Buying had NOTHING TO DO with the outcome of the vote.

I'll tell you the same thing I tell the Thaksonites and Red Shirts - Clean the tint off your glasses and look at the Real World.

By the way, with the spelling and grammatical errors in YOUR post, you have very little ground to be calling anyone else "under educated".

Absolutely agree! Get off this stupid vote-buying nonsense! I have recently been north and talked to many people about this - all say yes, money has been offered - they already know who they're going to vote for, but some idiot comes to give them money, so they take it! Easy! It has no measurable effect on how people decide to vote. A real example.... my wife was given Bt.1,000 by a Dem politician last election (we live south of BKK)...she took the money, but didn't vote for him.

[Frank James]

I found the article very informative and feel the same - Thailand on the brink - it is different this time to the others. I was here for the 1991 event and remember Suchinda on his face before the King for being responsible for the many deaths. The yellow shirt mob were responsible for many businesses collapsing because of the airport shut down - I had a Guest House and tourists stopped coming. The red shirts had the idea that there could be FAIRNESS for ALL, not just the elite in BKK - the elite still don't understand that BKK isn't Thailand - it's just a small part of the whole which includes the north and the north east with its multi millions.

The 'brink' is nearly here when those southern provinces could easily 'break away' and even the northern provinces could be thinking the same way - I know many who talk this way in the area I live in.

I was with an Indonesia journalist when he interviewed Dr Weng at the red shirt event and was impressed with his answers to every question. The jounalist was from Tempo magazine - highly respected in Indonesia - similar to Time magazine. The theme hasn't changed, FAIRNESS to ALL.

I've followed Thai Visa for years and years but only recently decided to come out of the silent majority to speak because I have found many of the posts offensive, childish, arrogant, pitiful, hurtful, senseless, uninformed and particularly obnoxious those posts that snear at how a person looks - reptilian etc -. This forum is read by thousands and thousands so civility is to be remembered in your public comments.

On the brink and less than a week to go - I love being here and I hope I can say the same in 10 days time

Well said, especially the part about "offensive, childish, arrogant, pitiful, hurtful, senseless, uninformed and particularly obnoxious" posts. Ever since this mess started in the autumn, I have tried to keep an open mind and pay respectful attention to all points of view, but the tone has become so shrill and hateful, I just can't abide some of this hateful nonsense. I have found a wonderful tool in my Thai Visa membership package called IGNORE. I now have four pages of names, (more to come) and it's amazing how much time and aggravation this saves. I'm sure my screen name has made it into a few ignore boxes, and that's fine with me. There are still a lot of posts I read by people who have an opinion different from mine, but they post their views in a respectful and intelligent manner, free of hateful rhetoric.

The OP article is the best summary of how things got the way they are now that I have seen anywhere.

Pray for Thailand.

[Emptyset]

I found the article very informative and feel the same - Thailand on the brink - it is different this time to the others. I was here for the 1991 event and remember Suchinda on his face before the King for being responsible for the many deaths. The yellow shirt mob were responsible for many businesses collapsing because of the airport shut down - I had a Guest House and tourists stopped coming. The red shirts had the idea that there could be FAIRNESS for ALL, not just the elite in BKK - the elite still don't understand that BKK isn't Thailand - it's just a small part of the whole which includes the north and the north east with its multi millions.

The 'brink' is nearly here when those southern provinces could easily 'break away' and even the northern provinces could be thinking the same way - I know many who talk this way in the area I live in.

I was with an Indonesia journalist when he interviewed Dr Weng at the red shirt event and was impressed with his answers to every question. The jounalist was from Tempo magazine - highly respected in Indonesia - similar to Time magazine. The theme hasn't changed, FAIRNESS to ALL.

I've followed Thai Visa for years and years but only recently decided to come out of the silent majority to speak because I have found many of the posts offensive, childish, arrogant, pitiful, hurtful, senseless, uninformed and particularly obnoxious those posts that snear at how a person looks - reptilian etc -. This forum is read by thousands and thousands so civility is to be remembered in your public comments.

On the brink and less than a week to go - I love being here and I hope I can say the same in 10 days time

I think most of us would like fairness for all but to suggest that there are eleven million 'elite' voters in Thailand who voted for the Dems last time is pushing it a bit don't you think? And judging from the double digit swing away from PTP in the election for the Bangkok governor if that were to be repeated in a national election the PTP's 4 million vote margin would be compromised even further.

The kingdom has many issues and sadly none of the current politicians have shown any indication that they have the ability to solve them. That is Thailand's dilemma.

Don't think so, I think the elections would be even more of a landslide for the North, the main thing that Suthep has done is to show the true colors of the Dems and what they really think of the people, he has only made them stronger and more determined. He has involved many people who really did not care about the elections or that did not take the time to vote, that will now go vote.

Its been my private opinion that Suthep is Thaksin's double agent; if anything is designed waverers and people who lost faith with the PT back to voting for them, its Suthep's antics in Bangkok.

Suthep and the PDRC really need to spell out exactly what 'reforms' they hope to carry out and try to make them seem worth achieving, if not, PT could well end up gaining votes from the last election and make these protests look even more ridiculous than they already are; if they can reduce the number of votes for the PT then it can at partly justify their position. Its not the North and NE that is important here, its how people in the central and eastern provinces will vote; if anybody is given a chance to vote that is.

Exactly. Obviously Suthep isn't really Thaksin's agent, but I can definitely see the case for it. Since pretty much the end of November they seem to have done their best to sabotage their own cause. Certainly after house was dissolved...

As for reforms, it was interesting to read Sanitsuda's article in the post earlier (Suthep 'reform' just another empty promise). She's always been one of the best writers at the Post. Certainly she's no PT fan, quite the opposite, but she's always been fair & also realistic, I feel. Read what she says about Suthep backtracking on local reform already. PT in 2012 tried to re-introduce elected kamnan and village chiefs, but shelved the idea after an outcry by kamnan nationwide. Suthep announced plans to decentralize, but the kamnan came out against him fearing it may spell the end for their lifelong tenures. So instead of merely announcing he'd maintain the status quo, he actually promised to elevate them further.

The problem that governments have in reforming is that the politicians within the government benefit from the system, so most are naturally against reforms that would change this. But why shouldn't that be the same with the Council? Should the Council actually come to power, they will have to go back to the people eventually for an election (or at least that's what they say). And when they do, they'll naturally try to get the support of the likes of Newin and Banharn over to their side and try to do a deal (as the junta tried to arrange in 07) where they'll partner the Democrats if results make the numbers possible.

Even if there are reforms that can be carried out to make the electoral system cleaner - and I'm not really convinced there are, as long as the system is to remain democratic - don't be so sure they'll carry them out. Too many entrenched interests and too much to lose, even for the 'good people'.

Edited January 8, 2014 by Emptyset

[CIHUAHUA]

Not all countries can govern themselves and perhaps Thailand is one of them where democracy is not working. As Thailand begins a new year, the country finds itself at a crossroads. What seems to be at stake is not only the future shape of democracy in this country, but whether it will even remain a democracy at all. This should worry all those who care about the future of Thailand and its people.

The government is facing a declared insurrection by mobs led in this instance by a incipient fascist, Mr. Suthep, who wants to overthrow the legitimately elected government in favor of a Mussolini fashioned "People's Council" which admittedly is intended to deliver the absolute rule of the privileged elites in place of a duly scheduled election.

Mr Suthep in 2010 was Deputy Prime Minister. He headed CRES (Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation) to monitor the situation that April. He was in charge, so to speak and had the power at that time to decide when people could protest and when it would be allowed. He could ban any website, freeze your money, close newspapers etc. He started to lose his power shortly there after and he has missed the authority he no longer has. He is a power- hungary man who has many rich Thais backing him up and probably the military as well. The Thai military usually steps in during a crisis like what is going on now but they say they will not intervene. Mr. Suthep does not represent the average Thai person only the Royals and the old -money -elite that do not want a democratic government. They say they do but they do not have an understanding of what it means. On the other side the “Shinawatra” family has the control of the poor who look up to that rich family as a savior to them to improve their lives. Perhaps he is not a good choice either and guilty of graft, but at least he threw the little people a bone. There have been18 coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932. Maybe Thailand needs new impartial candidates from outside of the country to vote for. I don't want the job but I'd do it cuz I love Thailand. And if elected, would I still have to check in every 90 days?

[ourmanflint]

The protesters are drawn from Bangkok’s middle class and wealthy elite, and from opposition strongholds in the south of the country. Their constant refrain is that poor rural Thais — those who voted for the government — are ignorant, ill-informed and sell their votes to the highest bidder. - complete rubbish! Seriously how many "elite" wealthy Thais would ever get up off their asses to march along roads or huddle together for days on end listening to Suthep? Just another cliche meant to divide and polarize opinion

Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban — a former Democrat deputy prime minister facing murder charges for his role in a 2010 crackdown on anti-government demonstrations — now finds himself on the other side of the barricades. - charges brought by the same corrupt government he is trying to overthrow, coincidence it is not

He has called for the overthrow of the current government, the suspension of electoral democracy, and rule by an appointed council of “good people” — prompting some commentators to describe his goals as essentially fascist. - essentially TV posters who have had too many singhas and remember being taught something one time, though they weren't sure where, sounds good so must be true. Sure!

Meanwhile, in the north and northeast of Thailand — the government’s support base — millions of loyal “red shirt” voters are seething with anger over what they see as yet another attempt by the Bangkok elite to bring down a government they have voted into power. - if this was true, where are they? I doubt if YL's government are anywhere near as popular now after all the u-turns than they were a few years ago when they pillaged and burned Bangkok

I thought the article was nonsense, full of all the usual cliches, lazy journalism at it's worst.

[paulyao]

Dont believe he stay in BKK and when, he not going out of the house...Most is right, but the class and the mount of the Protestors are definetly wrong.

And, he not explain, why the people protests...

Nothing about Governments wrongdoing against the constitution

Nothing about corruption going worse

Nothing about the rice pledging scheme...

Nothing about the planned Trillion Bath loan

Nothing about the amnesty bill

So for me, its better than AFP, but far away from good journalism...

easy solution,devalue the baht,farang spends more on leo and singha,rice mountain will be at a sellable price ! everybody happy and mau !!!

[TechnikaIII]

Flawed article. ... so flawed, It's nothing more than a waste of server space.

[PREM-R]

Flawed article. ... so flawed, It's nothing more than a waste of server space.

The views expressed in the article would appear to clash with your own, why not put forward your counter arguments?

[phantomfiddler]

Bring it on, something has to give or fall. Peu Thai have introduced to the thai people a little thing called "total instability" and are now reaping the rewards

[Halion]

Perhaps it is now time for the people of the North and North East who for some reason feel that they and they alone are the voice of Thailand to be put in their place. I am sick and tired of hearing how these rural poor puppets of the Shins think that they cast the deciding vote on the future of this country simply by being paid or being ignorant or possible a combination of both. Isan is only part of Thailand and perhaps it is the agricultural hub but it is not the intellectual nor educated center of this country. They have been used as pawns and cannon fodder by the Thaksin clan to the detriment of the development of this nation. This is not an issue that can be defined as being between the Bangkok elite and the rural poor. The Thaksin regime is as much part of the elite as any other group. They are multi millionaires who simply use the people in order to keep milking this country and keep themselves in an ultra elite lifestyle. Surely you can only fool all of the people some of the time , that is unless they are brain dead. I am no fan of SUTHEP , However this country needs to rid itself of the hypocritical parasites of the Shin clan and the ineffectual PTP lackeys.