Thai capital braces for 'shutdown' by protesters

[Gweiloman]

You've got to be a bit weird to want to live in overcrowded, smelly, rip-off bkk anyway.

Love from Issan.

I love living in Issan. All the tam pu pla, khao nieow, gai yang that I can eat. Sitting on my patio, watching the sun go down, the paddy farmers returning home to shrieks of delight from their little ones.

I do also enjoy Bangkok. The occasional cheese fondue at Chesa's, pork knuckle at Bei Otto, home brewed beer at Tawan Daeng, nice steaks, sashimi, Korean BBQ, pizza and pasta, curried crab, river prawns (those with the big, juicy, succulent heads)....... Oh, not forgetting that my company pays me to stay and work here as well.

[thaigold]

Not to worry folks ... just more shadow play by a minority mob that just can't win elections. Is their one person in the Kingdom that believes they can expel a majority elected government by snarling traffic and holding the nation up to international ridicule? The instigator of this street protest is himself an indicted fugitive (still at large).

An analogy; can anyone imagine in their wildest dreams a mob shutting down New York City without consequences? We all know the answer to that one, don't we?

And then all of this insane talk of a coup d'etat - impossible. In a forward looking nation like Thailand, with so much at stake, the army (if called by the government) will intercede to insure order and protect the Thai people, nationwide. Those who suggest the army would suppress the elected government of the majority in favor of a select few are living in a world long past.

The highest moral touchstone in this nation has asked the Thai people to unite / Long Live The King.

[ratcatcher]

The protesters want an appointed "people's council" to run the country and oversee vaguely defined electoral reforms before new elections are held in around a year to 18 months.

There's one piece of this puzzle that I just don't understand. Assuming the protesters are successful, and Yingluck resigns, then what happens?

Not that it's particularly relevant in this country, but what provision is there in the Constitution to deal with such a situation? Who will be in charge and decide the next step?

Edit: grammar & spelling

I also add to this what happens now that supposedly, not enough candidates are enolled to form a government because of the boycott by the dems? So again who will run the country?

I know a few bar girls and boys who could make some good policies... better than what is in place now.

Well, since you mentioned it, we all know how good many of the people in the "hospitality" industry are at extracting money in exchange for screwing their customers, there should be some good policies since politicians are more or less in the same business.

[Mackie]

A group of brainwashed stupid people led bu an egomaniac who is basically a criminal. They are going to ruin the lives of Millions of Thai people. It won't effect the majority of farangs. Simply move back home or on to one of many other beautiful places one can stay or holiday. When things clear up, simply return at your own wish. That won't help the millions who rely on income from tourists

Are you referring to a man in Dubai? He is definitely an egomaniac, and he is most definitely the criminal. Convicted one. I'm certain that you are aware that Thailand lost 6 billions USD in 2010, 100,000 plus Thais lost their jobs in 2010 (small business not included, many people went bust), not to mention dead people and carnage around Bangkok, and the very same people who were responsible for it UDD/Red shirt leaders such as Jatuporn, Nattawut, Kwanchai, Arisman etc...etc...instead of being locked up for a long time were rewarded with well-paid jobs. That was a dangerous precedent. Some of us warned that letting them off the hook will encourage others to follow their path. Unfortunately, we were proven right. The country which allows proven terrorists to occupy public functions has no future. Either Thailand cleanses the whole political scene of the rubbish they've been hiding under the rug for far too long or the country will simply cease to exist. As simple as that.

[Centrum]

A group of brainwashed stupid people led bu an egomaniac who is basically a criminal. They are going to ruin the lives of Millions of Thai people. It won't effect the majority of farangs. Simply move back home or on to one of many other beautiful places one can stay or holiday. When things clear up, simply return at your own wish. That won't help the millions who rely on income from tourists

Ooh, a cut'n'paste from 2010.

The irony, the irony

[Centrum]

There may yet come a day in Thailand when people will be celebrating in similar style and fashion, to the days when Sadam Hussein and Bin Laden were rid of for ever

What are you suggesting is going to happen to Thaksin?

[GentlemanJim]

Well the Government have tried to shut Bangkok down themselves tonight !!

Lots of fun down South. The main train from Trang to Bangkok was due to leave when there was an announcement that it would not be departing. The same thing being announced everywhere in the South for any trains heading to Bangkok. It seems the Government had decided that although there have been no derailments in the South that every line was going to undergo essential maintenance over the next three days which would mean no trains from South to North.

Unfortunately in Trang there were hundreds of people waiting to board the train, tickets in hand for their trip to join the protests. It resulted in a lot of noise. The police, then the Governor and MP were called to try and placate the crowd (i might add this is a town of pretty respectable, professional people), Some people who were clearly in the know as to what was going on said 'it's quite simple, either these trains depart or we will burn down the train station". Quite soon after, everybody boarded the train, happy smiling faces and flag waving and the train departed. I feel they could be in for the journey from hell, with purposeful stops on route for endless hours to ensure the trip is a nightmare. It transpires that there is no maintenance work of any type, the Government are trying to stop people traveling to Bangkok. In doing so they are not only stopping passengers on the trains, but all of the commerce, business and food deliveries that take place on the continuous line of trains between Bangkok and the South. In taking this action the Government were helping Suthep do his job. Not only will roads be closed but now there was a risk of trains as well. Not sure if trains have departed tonight from other places such as Hat Yai and Krabi, maybe someone else can comment.

[Gweiloman]

Well the Government have tried to shut Bangkok down themselves tonight !!

Lots of fun down South. The main train from Trang to Bangkok was due to leave when there was an announcement that it would not be departing. The same thing being announced everywhere in the South for any trains heading to Bangkok. It seems the Government had decided that although there have been no derailments in the South that every line was going to undergo essential maintenance over the next three days which would mean no trains from South to North.

Unfortunately in Trang there were hundreds of people waiting to board the train, tickets in hand for their trip to join the protests. It resulted in a lot of noise. The police, then the Governor and MP were called to try and placate the crowd (i might add this is a town of pretty respectable, professional people), Some people who were clearly in the know as to what was going on said 'it's quite simple, either these trains depart or we will burn down the train station". Quite soon after, everybody boarded the train, happy smiling faces and flag waving and the train departed. I feel they could be in for the journey from hell, with purposeful stops on route for endless hours to ensure the trip is a nightmare. It transpires that there is no maintenance work of any type, the Government are trying to stop people traveling to Bangkok. In doing so they are not only stopping passengers on the trains, but all of the commerce, business and food deliveries that take place on the continuous line of trains between Bangkok and the South. In taking this action the Government were helping Suthep do his job. Not only will roads be closed but now there was a risk of trains as well. Not sure if trains have departed tonight from other places such as Hat Yai and Krabi, maybe someone else can comment.

Either these trains depart or we will burn down the train station................. brace yourselves folks.

[slapout]

ratcatcher your post 33 is spot on, but I might ass, at least the 'hospitality' people leave you feeling warm, fuzzy and happy all over and the Politicians leave you with what would pass for a bad case of hemroides.

[GentlemanJim]

Well the Government have tried to shut Bangkok down themselves tonight !!

Lots of fun down South. The main train from Trang to Bangkok was due to leave when there was an announcement that it would not be departing. The same thing being announced everywhere in the South for any trains heading to Bangkok. It seems the Government had decided that although there have been no derailments in the South that every line was going to undergo essential maintenance over the next three days which would mean no trains from South to North.

Unfortunately in Trang there were hundreds of people waiting to board the train, tickets in hand for their trip to join the protests. It resulted in a lot of noise. The police, then the Governor and MP were called to try and placate the crowd (i might add this is a town of pretty respectable, professional people), Some people who were clearly in the know as to what was going on said 'it's quite simple, either these trains depart or we will burn down the train station". Quite soon after, everybody boarded the train, happy smiling faces and flag waving and the train departed. I feel they could be in for the journey from hell, with purposeful stops on route for endless hours to ensure the trip is a nightmare. It transpires that there is no maintenance work of any type, the Government are trying to stop people traveling to Bangkok. In doing so they are not only stopping passengers on the trains, but all of the commerce, business and food deliveries that take place on the continuous line of trains between Bangkok and the South. In taking this action the Government were helping Suthep do his job. Not only will roads be closed but now there was a risk of trains as well. Not sure if trains have departed tonight from other places such as Hat Yai and Krabi, maybe someone else can comment.

Either these trains depart or we will burn down the train station................. brace yourselves folks.

Exactly...brace yourselves. What do you expect when across the south many thousands of people who have purchased tickets and are ready to board are suddenly told, nope, no trains to Bangkok as there is essential maintenance, when in reality there is nothing. The guys who run the railways down here were fully aware and quick to call BS. There was no maintenance, if there was then the men running the railways and the drivers would be aware don't you think. A classic move by a Government who represent the antithesis of Democracy or the constitution and who want to instill a Dictatorship to control the population and swell their bank balances and ego's. I for one am glad the people power won down here. It was clear it was BS when the Government were told, run the trains or else. They relented immediately. It was a poor ill-judged attempt at stopping people exercising their democratic rights,

[DMG333]

He said 6 million at one point, which was pretty much the number of votes the Democrats got in the last election. Pretty amazing, huh?

Even if 6 million did come out, what gives them the right to tell the other 50 million what to do? Oh yeah, they are "elite" and "high so". Sorry, forgot.

That's why some Thais could achieve an excellent marketing career.......when one is fighting against corruption, look at his history.....from wiki

"Suthep gave title deeds to 592 plots of land in Khao Sam Liam, Kamala and Nakkerd hills of Phuket province to 489 farmers. It was later found that members of 11 wealthy families in Phuket were among the recipients. Suthep addressed a huge crowd in his Surat Thani constituency a month before a no-confidence debate and called on his supporters to march on Bangkok in the hundreds of thousands to defend his reputation. The scandal led Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai of the Democrat Party to dissolve the House of Representatives in July 1995 in order to avoid the no-confidence debate. In subsequent elections, Thai Nation Party won a majority, leading to the downfall of Chuan Leekpai's Democrat Party-led government.

Wikileaks diplomatic cables from the US embassy revealed that many members of his own party have long complained of his corrupt and unethical behavior."

Interesting repetition except this time round he is positioned on the opposing side......so let's see how the prejudiced crowd go from 13.

No! No! You are a lying PTP supporter! It is enemy propoganda. We are the people. We will win!

(Straitjacket goes on again. Back to the rubber room)

Yes! Yes! Fact! However sullen overwrought schismatist, please do not exercise your impertinence assumption, kindly do not conjecture my existence as a PTP supporter, I am just an objective citizen. Be it win or lose do it uprightly and with a conscious mind to add value to our society........ Edited January 11, 2014 by DMG333

[Thait Spot]

He said 6 million at one point, which was pretty much the number of votes the Democrats got in the last election. Pretty amazing, huh?

Even if 6 million did come out, what gives them the right to tell the other 50 million what to do? Oh yeah, they are "elite" and "high so". Sorry, forgot.

Apparently 14 million votes can tell 60 million what to do

And I'm sure you're just being crass by halving the Dem's vote but that surprises me not.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[bino]

Exactly...brace yourselves. What do you expect when across the south many thousands of people who have purchased tickets and are ready to board are suddenly told, nope, no trains to Bangkok as there is essential maintenance, when in reality there is nothing. The guys who run the railways down here were fully aware and quick to call BS. There was no maintenance, if there was then the men running the railways and the drivers would be aware don't you think. A classic move by a Government who represent the antithesis of Democracy or the constitution and who want to instill a Dictatorship to control the population and swell their bank balances and ego's. I for one am glad the people power won down here. It was clear it was BS when the Government were told, run the trains or else. They relented immediately. It was a poor ill-judged attempt at stopping people exercising their democratic rights,

Absolutely incredible. Not doubting you or that it actually happened, but it is just unf*ck*ngbelievable!

[DMG333]

Ozymandias mentioned:

...

Interesting repetition except this time round he is positioned on the opposing side......so let's see how the prejudiced crowd go from 13.

If you pick out what happened 20 years ago, what follies did YOU commit back 20 years ago? If you don't change in 20 years, you are a living dead, my boy! So allow Suthep to change as well.

Nobody here says Suthep is a saint.

But then Taksin is a non-saint of much bigger proportions.

I always get the feeling, the Reds never realize, that their mudslinging leaves then with much more dirt on their face then on their opponents face...

And I'm waiting for the day, when the Reds start talking about content, not about persons.

Are they for or against corruption? Suthep's follower are against it.

Are they for or against votebuying and election rigging? The demonstrators are against it.

Are they for or against a fair share of wealth for all Thais? The demonstrators are definitely for it.

Are they for or against an improoved education system? The demontrators are fro the improvement.

Are they for or against being taken for a ride and lied to and cheated by their own leaders? The demonstrators detest liars. And broken promises.

Are they for or against a government, that is working from within Thailand or from a not-elected guy in a foreign country? The demonstrators prefer to have the person in charge to be here, right in the center, not even on permanent vacation in Chiang Mai or Dubai/Hong Kong/Montenegro.

So in my humble oppinion, if the Reds weren't only listening to their leaders but instead ask for and demand substance, the leaders would since long be standing alone out in nowhere...

Sam

I am being impartial, I am just more observant , it may happen 20 years ago like you said, what you did not know is what happened 3 years ago when he was preparing for the election then. It is good to parturitate benefit of doubt, however I don't surmise my writing without apprehension;)

[DMG333]

Ozymandias mentioned:

...

Interesting repetition except this time round he is positioned on the opposing side......so let's see how the prejudiced crowd go from 13.

If you pick out what happened 20 years ago, what follies did YOU commit back 20 years ago? If you don't change in 20 years, you are a living dead, my boy! So allow Suthep to change as well.

Nobody here says Suthep is a saint.

But then Taksin is a non-saint of much bigger proportions.

I always get the feeling, the Reds never realize, that their mudslinging leaves then with much more dirt on their face then on their opponents face...

And I'm waiting for the day, when the Reds start talking about content, not about persons.

Are they for or against corruption? Suthep's follower are against it.

Are they for or against votebuying and election rigging? The demonstrators are against it.

Are they for or against a fair share of wealth for all Thais? The demonstrators are definitely for it.

Are they for or against an improoved education system? The demontrators are fro the improvement.

Are they for or against being taken for a ride and lied to and cheated by their own leaders? The demonstrators detest liars. And broken promises.

Are they for or against a government, that is working from within Thailand or from a not-elected guy in a foreign country? The demonstrators prefer to have the person in charge to be here, right in the center, not even on permanent vacation in Chiang Mai or Dubai/Hong Kong/Montenegro.

So in my humble oppinion, if the Reds weren't only listening to their leaders but instead ask for and demand substance, the leaders would since long be standing alone out in nowhere...

Sam

I am being impartial, I am just more observant , it may happen 20 years ago like you said, what you did not know is what happened 3 years ago when he was preparing for the election then. It is good to parturitate benefit of doubt, however I don't surmise my writing without apprehension;)

[DMG333]

Ozymandias mentioned:

...

Interesting repetition except this time round he is positioned on the opposing side......so let's see how the prejudiced crowd go from 13.

If you pick out what happened 20 years ago, what follies did YOU commit back 20 years ago? If you don't change in 20 years, you are a living dead, my boy! So allow Suthep to change as well.

Nobody here says Suthep is a saint.

But then Taksin is a non-saint of much bigger proportions.

I always get the feeling, the Reds never realize, that their mudslinging leaves then with much more dirt on their face then on their opponents face...

And I'm waiting for the day, when the Reds start talking about content, not about persons.

Are they for or against corruption? Suthep's follower are against it.

Are they for or against votebuying and election rigging? The demonstrators are against it.

Are they for or against a fair share of wealth for all Thais? The demonstrators are definitely for it.

Are they for or against an improoved education system? The demontrators are fro the improvement.

Are they for or against being taken for a ride and lied to and cheated by their own leaders? The demonstrators detest liars. And broken promises.

Are they for or against a government, that is working from within Thailand or from a not-elected guy in a foreign country? The demonstrators prefer to have the person in charge to be here, right in the center, not even on permanent vacation in Chiang Mai or Dubai/Hong Kong/Montenegro.

So in my humble oppinion, if the Reds weren't only listening to their leaders but instead ask for and demand substance, the leaders would since long be standing alone out in nowhere...

Sam

I am being impartial, I am just more observant , it may happen 20 years ago like you said, what you did not know is what happened 3 years ago when he was preparing for the election then. It is good to parturitate benefit of doubt, however I don't surmise my writing without apprehension;)

[Centrum]

He said 6 million at one point, which was pretty much the number of votes the Democrats got in the last election. Pretty amazing, huh?

Even if 6 million did come out, what gives them the right to tell the other 50 million what to do? Oh yeah, they are "elite" and "high so". Sorry, forgot.

Apparently 14 million votes can tell 60 million what to do

And I'm sure you're just being crass by halving the Dem's vote but that surprises me not.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Hmm...Barak Obama polled just under 70 million votes in a country of 314 million.

Seems in a 'democracy' the minority DO tell the majority what to do!

[blabth]

Ozymandias mentioned:

...

Interesting repetition except this time round he is positioned on the opposing side......so let's see how the prejudiced crowd go from 13.

If you pick out what happened 20 years ago, what follies did YOU commit back 20 years ago? If you don't change in 20 years, you are a living dead, my boy! So allow Suthep to change as well.

Nobody here says Suthep is a saint.

But then Taksin is a non-saint of much bigger proportions.

I always get the feeling, the Reds never realize, that their mudslinging leaves then with much more dirt on their face then on their opponents face...

And I'm waiting for the day, when the Reds start talking about content, not about persons.

Are they for or against corruption? Suthep's follower are against it.

Are they for or against votebuying and election rigging? The demonstrators are against it.

Are they for or against a fair share of wealth for all Thais? The demonstrators are definitely for it.

Are they for or against an improoved education system? The demontrators are fro the improvement.

Are they for or against being taken for a ride and lied to and cheated by their own leaders? The demonstrators detest liars. And broken promises.

Are they for or against a government, that is working from within Thailand or from a not-elected guy in a foreign country? The demonstrators prefer to have the person in charge to be here, right in the center, not even on permanent vacation in Chiang Mai or Dubai/Hong Kong/Montenegro.

So in my humble oppinion, if the Reds weren't only listening to their leaders but instead ask for and demand substance, the leaders would since long be standing alone out in nowhere...

Sam

I am being impartial, I am just more observant , it may happen 20 years ago like you said, what you did not know is what happened 3 years ago when he was preparing for the election then. It is good to parturitate benefit of doubt, however I don't surmise my writing without apprehension;)

Both sides never had a program.

What is the program of the reds or yellows to improve the educational system in the north? How do ensure that all Thais will participate on the fair distribution of wealth? How to stop corruption?

Does anybody thinks with the elimination of the Shin Government corruption will stop? Does anybody is so naive to say with a new government the basics will change?

The only thing ( and that is scary) is that if a guy like Suthep will gain control that he can change the constitution to change from a election to a selection system, away from the basic democratic requirement one person one vote, changing Thailand back into a feudalistic system.

Suthep is stepping on thin ice as the people in the North have tasted the power, they will not go back under a system established by the Thai elite.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[LadPhrao1]

Well the Government have tried to shut Bangkok down themselves tonight !!

Lots of fun down South. The main train from Trang to Bangkok was due to leave when there was an announcement that it would not be departing. The same thing being announced everywhere in the South for any trains heading to Bangkok. It seems the Government had decided that although there have been no derailments in the South that every line was going to undergo essential maintenance over the next three days which would mean no trains from South to North.

Unfortunately in Trang there were hundreds of people waiting to board the train, tickets in hand for their trip to join the protests. It resulted in a lot of noise. The police, then the Governor and MP were called to try and placate the crowd (i might add this is a town of pretty respectable, professional people), Some people who were clearly in the know as to what was going on said 'it's quite simple, either these trains depart or we will burn down the train station". Quite soon after, everybody boarded the train, happy smiling faces and flag waving and the train departed. I feel they could be in for the journey from hell, with purposeful stops on route for endless hours to ensure the trip is a nightmare. It transpires that there is no maintenance work of any type, the Government are trying to stop people traveling to Bangkok. In doing so they are not only stopping passengers on the trains, but all of the commerce, business and food deliveries that take place on the continuous line of trains between Bangkok and the South. In taking this action the Government were helping Suthep do his job. Not only will roads be closed but now there was a risk of trains as well. Not sure if trains have departed tonight from other places such as Hat Yai and Krabi, maybe someone else can comment.

Brilliant! The people of the south who were blocking the candidate registration sites are now blocked from traveling north to try to shut down Bangkok. The PDRC will have to take this into account when they announce their next 6 miilion protestors figures in Bangkok.

Sounds like a Suthep mini-me farang fantasy conspiracy but hope it turns out to be true. Would be a stroke of genius outwitting the crowd that doesn't respect other people's right to vote, by the government.

"The seige of Bangkok has been cancelled" spread the word...

Edited January 11, 2014 by LadPhrao1

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Erm, I think you need to re-read the article. There is no indication that it is written by a PTP supporter. You seem to be suffering from that reflex thought - 'if it contradicts what the dear leader says it must be enemy propoganda.'

From a journalist's point of view, I'd say the AFP OP report certainly has a number of phrases and ways of describing things that are more than bit sympathetic/supportive to the whole Thaksin clan.

I don't know the author. But the report isn't especially politically neutral or balanced.

If I was his editor, I would have re-phrased a few things. An international wire service like AFP owes its customers better journalism than the OP report.

But perhaps the wording didn't originate with the author. AFP has a tendency to settle upon certain phrases and then just keep repeating them ad nauseum. Who knows where the phrases originate from.

[h90]

"At their height, the protests have drawn more than 150,000 people accusing Yingluck's government of corruption and urging her to step down."

But Suthep said there were millions of "the people".

How about saying the protests have drawn about 150 people. PTP lies have no limit.

"How about saying the protests have drawn about 150 people. PTP lies have no limit."

But this is not a report from PTP, it is the objective view of AFP

objective surely not...the videos from flying over the demonstrations are well known, I can't judge if it 800.000, 1.500.000, 3.000.000 or even 6.000.000.

But sure it was not 150.000.

[Old Man River]

At the movement's rally site near the government headquarters, former soldier-turned-protester Anan Jandontree has produced about 1,000 homemade flak jackets filled with layers of used hospital X-ray film in preparation for the showdown."We will fight our best, because we have made all these, so we will fight and we will succeed," he said.

Sounds like a peaceful movement.

People are dying, because Suthep will not accept any proposals for negotiation.

It's absolutely sick that his plan is to incite violence.

It's absolutely sick that last night (and other nights), people ride in on motorcycles and shoot protestors while they are sleeping.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[hellodolly]

He said 6 million at one point, which was pretty much the number of votes the Democrats got in the last election. Pretty amazing, huh?

Even if 6 million did come out, what gives them the right to tell the other 50 million what to do? Oh yeah, they are "elite" and "high so". Sorry, forgot.

You really should try to learn some thing before you post.

[jackrich]

At the movement's rally site near the government headquarters, former soldier-turned-protester Anan Jandontree has produced about 1,000 homemade flak jackets filled with layers of used hospital X-ray film in preparation for the showdown."We will fight our best, because we have made all these, so we will fight and we will succeed," he said.

Sounds like a peaceful movement.

People are dying, because Suthep will not accept any proposals for negotiation.

It's absolutely sick that his plan is to incite violence.

It's absolutely sick that last night (and other nights), people ride in on motorcycles and shoot protestors while they are sleeping.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

I slept at home. Nobody shot me. I wonder why?

Wife says its because I didn't piss anyone off continuously for the past 2 months. I wonder if she's right.

[hellodolly]

At the movement's rally site near the government headquarters, former soldier-turned-protester Anan Jandontree has produced about 1,000 homemade flak jackets filled with layers of used hospital X-ray film in preparation for the showdown."We will fight our best, because we have made all these, so we will fight and we will succeed," he said.

Sounds like a peaceful movement.

People are dying, because Suthep will not accept any proposals for negotiation.

It's absolutely sick that his plan is to incite violence.

Good for him.

He wants to rid Thailand of corruption as much as he can and the Shinawatra's want to get as much of it as they can. No negotiation. Stick to the target.

Thailand has allowed them to rape it for years Yingluck could well have stopped this long ago by not allowing a bill to white wash her brother to pass in the house. She should not have even allowed it to be brought to the house. In typical Shinawatra disdain for the Thai people she very arrogantly allowed it to be shoved through.

What is she going to negotiate with. Is she going to say OK we will only steal have as much money a year as we have been doing for the past two and a half years.

What is there to negotiate about other than letting the PTP keep on with their corruption. Unacceptable to Suthep so why waste time negotiating over it.

[nomimusic]

"An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for the survival of a free people." Thomas Jefferson

Until people are able to think for themselves they will be able to be lead by nose rings by any person or faction wanting to gain power. This is not a rap on the Thai's alone, as we only need to look to almost every nation to see how it's populace are manipulated. In the olden days it was more tribal, but in todays world of instant news and communications it is even more dangerous. Just watch FOX news in America and you will see not news, but a political barrage of what people want to hear, black and white simple minded analysis, not journalism. Fox is not alone, but the most obvious. Democracy, it is what you make of it. Good luck Thailand. (it would be fitting to have pre-fight Muay Thai music being played before the showdown) It is all so senseless. Ape > homo habilis> homo erectus> Neanderthal> Human> homo Pawnus. (as in pawns)

[hellodolly]

The protesters want an appointed "people's council" to run the country and oversee vaguely defined electoral reforms before new elections are held in around a year to 18 months.

There's one piece of this puzzle that I just don't understand. Assuming the protesters are successful, and Yingluck resigns, then what happens?

Not that it's particularly relevant in this country, but what provision is there in the Constitution to deal with such a situation? Who will be in charge and decide the next step?

Edit: grammar & spelling

Bingo. that is the question.

Suthep wants to set up a comittee to write up reform policies for the government. Who is to serve on the council andf who will pick them. It has already been suggested that big business and academia be involved I would look for legal people and union people. But who are they that is the big question. Even some polations. In spite of the filth they are in there are some honest politicians.

I would recommend that Suthep and Yingluck be kept away from it. They are both figures of power with opposite ends and both narrow minded unwilling to change. I salute Suthep for his fortitude in sticking to his guns for the commission but that is not the kind of thinking needed there they need flexible minds open to other ways. Yingluck is also one track minded. It is to keep the Shinawatra family in control at all costs. This is not helpful thinking for the work the commission will be faced with.

A formidable task to pick the right people but still a better choice than to let the Shinawatra's form a dynasty.

[hellodolly]

"Schools will close because of fears for students' safety"

An earlier report said schools would be closed so there would be less traffic on the roads.

That's the PTP way of doing things hide the problem as much as possible. They did the same thing here in Chiang Mai when they had the conference on water Management.

Figured the closing of education was not important. It was more important to look like there was no traffic problems here in Chiang Mai.

Once again education looses out due to PTP policy.

[erobando]

The protesters want an appointed "people's council" to run the country and oversee vaguely defined electoral reforms before new elections are held in around a year to 18 months.

There's one piece of this puzzle that I just don't understand. Assuming the protesters are successful, and Yingluck resigns, then what happens?

Not that it's particularly relevant in this country, but what provision is there in the Constitution to deal with such a situation? Who will be in charge and decide the next step?

Edit: grammar & spelling

Is your question about Suthep getting the appointed government thing that he's calling for? If so, then for sure the current Constitution would not be valid.

But if your question is specifically about Yingluck, then that situation is covered in any parliamentary system... PTP already called for new elections. If Yingluck didn't run again, someone else would be noninated to serve as PM if PTP won an outright majority or formed coalition government.

[SamMunich]

To DMG333:

My critique wasn't against you but against Ozymandias, who cought up the AD1995 story about the 401 (?) title deed case, that led to the democrats government taking responsibility and resign. Compared to Taksin or his clone Yingluck Khun Chuan Leekpai was a political gentleman!

And please note, I don't mind if you have a different oppinion, only if somebody is twisting history to make it fit his intentions.

On that issue, I get the feeling here at ThaiVisa and other places as well is, that the Taksinistas are much more narrowminded, accepting only their point of view. That is as if they feared to get off the path of being true supporters. All the same I get uneasy, if I see people, who look as if they were brainwashed and straightened out just like the Nazi mass organizations of SA, Hitler-Youth etc. It is a wonderful way to cope with inferiority, maybe, but it's something that scares me. After all we are humans and no machines, so let's use our own brain instead of others tell us what to think. And do.

The other day I was sitting in an open air pub, when a farang, obviously a Taksinisto, came up to me and told me to leave, because that place was a red shirt place. In fact it isn't and he isn't the owner either, but he wanted me to leave immediately or he would kick me out by force. I've never seen that guy before and vice versa, but he was so angry looking, it seemed he was convinced to do the only tright thing. Turned out, our goals and point of view were not that awful different, but he still wanted to pick a fight with me. Poor guy, must be close to a veritable stomach ulcer the way he looked so angry..

BTW, talking about history, does anybody remember, when Sunthorn, the guy behind Suchinda, died a few years ago? His two wives were figthing over a 2 billion Baht inhertiance and the word on the street was, that that was from Taksin to get the ThaiCom satelite concession... But then again, that is over 20 years ago.

Edited January 11, 2014 by SamMunich