EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Shutdown will be a flop, says Thaksin aide
Hataikarn Treesuwan
The Nation


Watana

'Decree for reforms would take away legitimacy for campaign against govt'

BANGKOK: -- The anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee, led by Suthep Thaugsuban, believes the people will succeed in overthrowing the "Thaksin regime". They are hoping the planned "Bangkok shutdown" will force caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra out of her post soon.

Today, while a great mass of people is expected to come out strongly against the caretaker government to walk on every street and shut down the capital, a key figure of the Pheu Thai Party, Watana Muang-sook, who is a close aide of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, told The Nation that he does not think Suthep can get close to victory. It is a troublesome situation for the PDRC leaders.

"I don't know how it can happen. How can the PDRC have many protesters who will occupy the seven intersections for a long time? You know it was not hard for Adolph Hitler to order an invasion of countries in World War II, but it was very difficult to control those areas," he said.

The Bangkok shutdown would not affect the caretaker government, but the lives of Bangkok people would be really affected. The PDRC would become an enemy of the people, he said.

He added that the PDRC movement appeared to be failing in its fight against the Yingluck administration for two reasons:

First, people would not go out en masse to protest with Suthep if the caretaker government decided to issue an executive decree setting up a reform committee as proposed by 25 private organisations, in a politically neutral manner.

"If Suthep and his fellow protesters refused to join this forum, it means that they do not want reforms but want to have power. The planned Bangkok shutdown aims to oust the caretaker government, not initiate reform," he said.

Second, a military coup to lead the country out of the crisis is out of the question in the future. The military top brass has learned its lessons from the 2006 coup, staged by General Sonthi Boonyaratglin. Many foreign countries also say no to a coup and support the February 2 election. And a huge number of people, including the pro-government red shirts and the no-colour shirts, are ready to fight against any coup.

"Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha wouldn't dare to do so. He has just nine months left for retirement. If he staged a coup and was not upgraded by being appointed to a big role, why would he do it?" he said.

The military would cooperate with the government if the emergency decree was invoked to keep peace and order.

"I never thought that outlaw groups would declare themselves victorious in this fight," he said. During the 73 days leading up to the protest, Suthep has stood in a strong position with a massive turn-out.

"If citizens and intellectuals, who were part of the rally, step out, the fight on the streets would inevitably come to an end. Then Suthep and the core PDRC leaders have to enter the reconciliation process," he said.


-- The Nation 2014-01-13

If by flop he means current gov will be replaced within few weeks, then he is correct.

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The whole "political" system is a flop.

I wonder if that was his logic in April/May 2010? The red shirts set the precedent for taking the capitol hostage to get your way.

The whole of Europe versus the centre of Bangkok is hardly a good comparison? Unless the said aid does not understand Europe is a big place and it was 70 years ago when we didn't have modern communications, jet airliners, Internet and smartphones?

"I don't know how it can happen. How can the PDRC have many protesters who will occupy the seven intersections for a long time? You know it was not hard for Adolph Hitler to order an invasion of countries in World War II, but it was very difficult to control those areas," he said.

The Bangkok shutdown would not affect the caretaker government, but the lives of Bangkok people would be really affected. The PDRC would become an enemy of the people, he said.

Exactly. Let the spoilt brat yellow shirts have their hissy fit, give them the rope they need to hang themselves, then lets move on to elections as planned.

Good question posed by another poster - what does he mean by "flop?"

Good question posed by another poster - what does he mean by "flop?"

He is trying to deflect the rice pledging scheme and the flood prevention scheme.......he is familiar with "Flops"

"I never thought that outlaw groups would declare themselves victorious in this fight," he said.

You should know, Pops.

Flop = does not successfully fulfil its goals.

I agree. They have overstretched themselves & won't be able to maintain 7 rally sites. Even 1 site has been virtually deserted during the night & early day, except when they'd just bused up a few loads of Southerners.

If the govt/reds/police stay cool & wait it out, the local residents will get progressively more annoyed with this sanctimonious minority & they will fail.

Thaskin seems to think that Thailand still loves him, nothing could be further from the truth, this guy is either dumb or in denial , Thaskin you have completely wreaked Thailand as a friendly country with a caring population , now it is dog eat dog, something Burma couldn't do nor the Japanese, Thaskins aid is just a mouth piece for a man who at best was a megalomaniac, this aid needs to get a real job , as for the Shutdown being a flop , we will see.

If by flop he means current gov will be replaced within few weeks, then he is correct.Sent from my C6802 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Opinion not fact.

Instead of entering the reconciliation process, it would be better if Suthep entered the going-to-jail process.

I wonder if that was his logic in April/May 2010? The red shirts set the precedent for taking the capitol hostage to get your way.

Apart from 2 rather important points.

1) The red shirts did not get their way

2) The PAD were the ones that set the mass prolonged street protests, which the Red subsequently followed.

I wonder if that was his logic in April/May 2010? The red shirts set the precedent for taking the capitol hostage to get your way.

Different game, different goals. The result was an election and the Thaksinistas being swept to power.

Then instead of any reform, they got straight down to a spectacular gobble-swoggling campaign to reward themselves for enduring fraternization with the dark-skinned hoi poloi.

Whoever said that this country has never been occupied was playing on the lovingly cultivated IGNORANCE of the vast majority of Thais and farang pedigree-bus stowaways.

Real Thais have been occupied for years.

Have a look at the King Prajadipok manifesto.

I wonder if that was his logic in April/May 2010? The red shirts set the precedent for taking the capitol hostage to get your way.

Apart from 2 rather important points.

1) The red shirts did not get their way

2) The PAD were the ones that set the mass prolonged street protests, which the Red subsequently followed.

1) Sure they did. Abhisit called elections early.

2) I suppose there's a difference between a street protest and an armed encampment. Maybe not.

First, people would not go out en masse to protest with Suthep if the caretaker government decided to issue an executive decree setting up a reform committee as proposed by 25 private organisations, in a politically neutral manner.

Watana has it wrong, if this results from the protests Suthep and Thailand have won. In my opinion Thailand is better off already as people have a much better idea of their roles in a democracy.

I wonder if that was his logic in April/May 2010? The red shirts set the precedent for taking the capitol hostage to get your way.

Apart from 2 rather important points.

1) The red shirts did not get their way

2) The PAD were the ones that set the mass prolonged street protests, which the Red subsequently followed.

Look at Thai history...PAD weren't the first one.....it has tradition.

Instead of entering the reconciliation process, it would be better if Suthep entered the going-to-jail process.

Would it not be better for Mr T to have the balls to come back and go to jail

I wonder if that was his logic in April/May 2010? The red shirts set the precedent for taking the capitol hostage to get your way.

Apart from 2 rather important points.

1) The red shirts did not get their way

2) The PAD were the ones that set the mass prolonged street protests, which the Red subsequently followed.

Look at Thai history...PAD weren't the first one.....it has tradition.

Enlighten me, when and for how long did these previous prolonged protests take place?

I wonder if that was his logic in April/May 2010? The red shirts set the precedent for taking the capitol hostage to get your way.

Apart from 2 rather important points.

1) The red shirts did not get their way

2) The PAD were the ones that set the mass prolonged street protests, which the Red subsequently followed.

Look at Thai history...PAD weren't the first one.....it has tradition.

Enlighten me, when and for how long did these previous prolonged protests take place?

The "student uprising" in the 70s when the then interior minister, a certain Mr Samak, declared they were all communists after which 100s were killed in the most brutal fashion some being hung & burned. Also in recent history 1992 when Chamlong lead a protest to oust the military backed government again resulting in an unknown number of deaths which was officially in the 40s but there were reports of truckloads of bodies being taken away. HM the King intervened to prevent further bloodshed.

I wonder if that was his logic in April/May 2010? The red shirts set the precedent for taking the capitol hostage to get your way.

Apart from 2 rather important points.

1) The red shirts did not get their way

2) The PAD were the ones that set the mass prolonged street protests, which the Red subsequently followed.

1) Sure they did. Abhisit called elections early.

2) I suppose there's a difference between a street protest and an armed encampment. Maybe not.

The yellows certainly had an armed encampment at Suvarnabhumi Airport. "Another checkpoint found an Uzi submachine gun, homemade guns, ammunition, sling shots, bullet-proof vests and metal rods. The vehicle had the universally recognised Red Cross signs on its exterior to give the impression it was being used for medical emergencies." IPS news

Flop = does not successfully fulfil its goals.

I agree. They have overstretched themselves & won't be able to maintain 7 rally sites. Even 1 site has been virtually deserted during the night & early day, except when they'd just bused up a few loads of Southerners.

If the govt/reds/police stay cool & wait it out, the local residents will get progressively more annoyed with this sanctimonious minority & they will fail.

Read the news.

Buses from So Saket, Roi Et, Buri Ram, Pitsanulok and many other parts of Isaan are joining the PDRC

I know you don't want to know this but open your eyes.

The people are revolting

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I wonder if that was his logic in April/May 2010? The red shirts set the precedent for taking the capitol hostage to get your way.

No, they didn't. That was the PAD in 2009, when they took over Suvarnaphumi. Whilst not the 'capitol' as such, it did paralyse Bangkok as a flight hub. And it did give the reds a few ideas, clearly, for 2010.

Each time the polarisation reverses, yellow to red, red to yellow, the anti is upped. You can blame both bands of lunatics for this.

Instead of entering the reconciliation process, it would be better if Suthep entered the going-to-jail process.

Would it not be better for Mr T to have the balls to come back and go to jail

.

Would it not be better if both of them were in jail?

Watching the thai news now, most protest sites seem more or less deserted. At Asok the protesters are only stretching back about as far as Soi Cowboy, and at Lumpini there are a few people. Perhaps the protest numbers will bolster when half of them can be bothered to get out of bed

Actually Rajadamri looks quite busy, but how may of those shown are actually protesting, and how many are passing through going about their business in anybodies guess.

I wonder if that was his logic in April/May 2010? The red shirts set the precedent for taking the capitol hostage to get your way.

No, they didn't. That was the PAD in 2009, when they took over Suvarnaphumi. Whilst not the 'capitol' as such, it did paralyse Bangkok as a flight hub. And it did give the reds a few ideas, clearly, for 2010.

Each time the polarisation reverses, yellow to red, red to yellow, the anti is upped. You can blame both bands of lunatics for this.

But the army did NOT set a precedent is sending in troops to gun down innocent protesters.

a typical representant of a mediocre educated guy who never learnt history right and is not learning anything just the same as the whole governement....thinking only they know what is right..... about reform process they had more than 2 years time to start something seriously...but did not do anything... no wonder nobody with a little common sense trust them anymore

Watching the thai news now, most protest sites seem more or less deserted. At Asok the protesters are only stretching back about as far as Soi Cowboy, and at Lumpini there are a few people. Perhaps the protest numbers will bolster when half of them can be bothered to get out of bed

Actually Rajadamri looks quite busy, but how may of those shown are actually protesting, and how many are passing through going about their business in anybodies guess.

It's still a bit early in the day for a big turn out. I'd expect that by mid afternoon the numbers will swell quite a bit. It was the same during the last big rally.

Watching the thai news now, most protest sites seem more or less deserted. At Asok the protesters are only stretching back about as far as Soi Cowboy, and at Lumpini there are a few people. Perhaps the protest numbers will bolster when half of them can be bothered to get out of bed

Actually Rajadamri looks quite busy, but how may of those shown are actually protesting, and how many are passing through going about their business in anybodies guess.

It's still a bit early in the day for a big turn out. I'd expect that by mid afternoon the numbers will swell quite a bit. It was the same during the last big rally.

Morning prayers?