Eight protesters injured in bomb attack against Suthep's procession

[lifeincnx]

Meanwhile "looking in" at this Thailand crisis from outside the proverbial fishbowl. This latest article from The Economist is well worth a read...

http://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2014/01/thailands-political-crisis

[Mentors]

I live in the upper South far from the tourist zoos. Believe me, there are many hard working people which not wearing yellow or (red of course). But, btw. do you know where Jatuporn and Nattawut come from? Just for an example

Edited January 17, 2014 by Mentors

[JenksB]

M26 grenades from Navy SEALS, possibly Russian Grenades from sailors maybe a large firework or an IED, if it was a navy seal Suthep would be dead, they don't miss by 30m, the same for any military personel, they are trained to use explosive ordinance as was I when I was in the military, you cannot miss a target by 30mespecially from the roof of a building you would wait until the taget was directly below and a gentle lob on top of the target, finished, however there seems to be so many different knowledgeable people who know exactly what was thrown and who threw it I'm suprised that there have been no arrests given the amount of "evidence" on TV, A second point was the OP who said do you think Thais woud bomb (kill) therown people? well yes actually it is a Thai in all probabilty who threw the bomb/firework/IED whateverit doesn't make him a non-Thai because he wears a red/yellow black or rainbow shirt, he is an attempted murderer who more by luck than judgement didn't kill several people.

[Mackie]

Your logic is somewhat misaligned if you can make a comparison between a national protest against a definitively corrupt and ineffectual government,

And what about your logic of accusing the current government of corruption, when the people they want to replace it with are even more corrupt. You don't find that a bit hypocritical?

I don't think any government in Thai history lost over 13 billion USD in less than two years just to stay popular in rural Thailand. We're not talking only rice scam here. There is also a water management scam, a tablet for every child scam (paid in advance), not being delivered, questionable quality etc...etc...Get some perspective, will you? Accountability - no, responsibility - no, representation - no, transparency - no.

I just can not hear it anymore - the Thai government is corrupt!! Big news!!

you want perspective? Bangkok produces only 26% of GDP but gets 70 % of the budget - the South gets twice the budget compared to the north and North East!

You know how much money we are talking fore Bangkok a 70% slice of the cake?? This is what this is all about money is being distributed to different people now and the elite who is used to get the loins share will not have it!

Or why do you think big businesses secretly sponsor Suthep's demonstrations? They want their cake back!!!

If the democrats would have done something in the almost 3 years they where in power they would have won the elections - the only thing they did was being obsessed with Thaksin at the orders of their military puppet masters!

Thai people could not wait to vote them out even though the Democrats admitted they spent more money vote buying than PT!

Suthep telling people this government is corrupt is like one thief pointing the finger at another thief shouting "he steals" !

Chuan Lekphai's government - the last elected Democrat government of Thailand stumbled over guess who?? Yes Suthep's corrupt dealings!

Please stop repeating Suthep's rethoric here and get some facts!

For goodness sake mate, get some perspective, will you? I actually posted facts, and you posted nothing but your opinion, which is abject nonsense by the way. Sources for your ridiculous claims, please.

[northernjohn]

Al Jazeera seems impressed by the caretaker PM's resolve answering questions today. That seemed a big part of their bomb story. I came away feeling 'oh she has strong determined resolve in the face of this situation'. Such a nice news story.

...so many people underestimate her, it works to her very significant advantage. But she would not use violence.

I agree that is doubtful that Yingluck would use violence, but it is frankly also doubtful that she has known much at all about the corruption in the rice scheme or the real intent behind the 350 million baht flood program. She is a pretty face that has singularly failed to be, in any visible way, the PM.

Any comments about who actually is directly responsible for this cowardly attack are, of course, purely speculative. We all, have our own different hate-figures we would love to blame. My personal one is Thaksin's long-term crony Chalerm.

But PM Yingluck, as head of the caretaker government, is responsible for what happens in Thailand and how conflicts are resolved. No two ways about that.

I am quite sure she gave a nice interview. Democracy and all that.

But did she say why Suthep wanted to set up a council to reform the Government and reform the election. Two things which she flatly refused to do. As it sits now she has decided all of a sudden to set up a council to discuss reforming the government but it is under her control. Did she mention that Suthep wanted an election after the election process had been reformed to make it an even table for all parties concerned. Not one that the party with the most money could and would win. One based on issues. Then have an election. Did she mention that Suthep had no political affiliations just grass root people who all on their own set up a protest that got so big it needed a leader and at that point Suthep entered the picture as a potential leader which he did become. The leader for a group that had no intentions of running candidates for the election. They just wanted honest ones.

I am quite sure none of that was mentioned.

As you say comments on who is responsible for this cowardly act are purely speculative but we can draw some conclusions based on the past history of some of those involved in this type of thing. If I remember correctly there was several bombs going on around Bangkok after the red shirts were routed out in 2010. In fact one of the bomb makers a red shirt blew himself up by mishandling his material.

I don't think the protestors would do it to them selves. The red shirts are split now they have a group that wants politics with out Thaksin in it and two groups that want him in it. I don't think the PTP would do it. But they do have a few members with a bloody past. But then again we can just speculate.

[pookiki]

Meanwhile "looking in" at this Thailand crisis from outside the proverbial fishbowl. This latest article from The Economist is well worth a read...

http://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2014/01/thailands-political-crisis

A good read. Thanks for letting me out of the bowl for a while! BTW, I didn't see the same reporting on the issue of the statement made by the professor about sexually assaulting Yingluck. Did I miss something?

Edited January 17, 2014 by pookiki

[Hulkster]

When a minority that represents the interests of the Bangkok elite attempts to seize control of the country through undemocratic means, this is the result.

And the longer the minority petitions to deny the majority their political rights the worse this kind of violence will get.

I don't want to hear any complaining from the minority because they are bringing it on themselves.

The poor are not going to stand for having an despotic, undemocratic government representing the Bangkok elite foisted upon them for the umpteenth time.

[northernjohn]

Meanwhile "looking in" at this Thailand crisis from outside the proverbial fishbowl. This latest article from The Economist is well worth a read...

http://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2014/01/thailands-political-crisis

I got as far as

Quote

 
"Her Pheu Thai party, which is the third incarnation of a party founded by 
her brother, the former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was prepared to win 
it. And so the protesters, led by Suthep Thaugsuban, a former deputy prime 
minister of the opposition Democrat Party, returned to the streets on January 
13th. They are now demanding that the very process by which Thailand (usually) 
chooses its governments—ie elections—be junked.

The anti government protestors were calling for a reform of the election process long before Jan. 13. Kind off shows how little the Economist knows and the people willing to believe them.

[newcomer71]

Meanwhile "looking in" at this Thailand crisis from outside the proverbial fishbowl. This latest article from The Economist is well worth a read...

http://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2014/01/thailands-political-crisis

I got as far as

Quote

 
"Her Pheu Thai party, which is the third incarnation of a party founded by 
her brother, the former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was prepared to win 
it. And so the protesters, led by Suthep Thaugsuban, a former deputy prime 
minister of the opposition Democrat Party, returned to the streets on January 
13th. They are now demanding that the very process by which Thailand (usually) 
chooses its governments—ie elections—be junked.

The anti government protestors were calling for a reform of the election process long before Jan. 13. Kind off shows how little the Economist knows and the people willing to believe them.

The problem on TV seems that everyone in the forum thinks they understand everything already and don't have to listen some different voice to try to broaden their view: yellow, red, and both sides oriented.

Then when someone neutral put out an idea is labeled red or yellow because he dared to go against such beliefs.

There is no way out.

[pookiki]

Meanwhile "looking in" at this Thailand crisis from outside the proverbial fishbowl. This latest article from The Economist is well worth a read...

http://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2014/01/thailands-political-crisis

I got as far as

Quote

 
"Her Pheu Thai party, which is the third incarnation of a party founded by 
her brother, the former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was prepared to win 
it. And so the protesters, led by Suthep Thaugsuban, a former deputy prime 
minister of the opposition Democrat Party, returned to the streets on January 
13th. They are now demanding that the very process by which Thailand (usually) 
chooses its governments—ie elections—be junked.

The anti government protestors were calling for a reform of the election process long before Jan. 13. Kind off shows how little the Economist knows and the people willing to believe them.

Well, its good to know that the only mistake that the article made is the date on which the protests began. Thanks for the help!

[Emptyset]

Meanwhile "looking in" at this Thailand crisis from outside the proverbial fishbowl. This latest article from The Economist is well worth a read...

http://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2014/01/thailands-political-crisis

A good read. Thanks for letting me out of the bowl for a while! BTW, I didn't see the same reporting on the issue of the statement made by the professor about sexually assaulting Yingluck. Did I miss something?

See this: http://www.trust.org/item/20140117102903-gcbzr/ ("The din of misogny at Bangkok protests").

[MickGC]

Meanwhile "looking in" at this Thailand crisis from outside the proverbial fishbowl. This latest article from The Economist is well worth a read...

http://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2014/01/thailands-political-crisis

I got as far as

Quote

 
"Her Pheu Thai party, which is the third incarnation of a party founded by 
her brother, the former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was prepared to win 
it. And so the protesters, led by Suthep Thaugsuban, a former deputy prime 
minister of the opposition Democrat Party, returned to the streets on January 
13th. They are now demanding that the very process by which Thailand (usually) 
chooses its governments—ie elections—be junked.

The anti government protestors were calling for a reform of the election process long before Jan. 13. Kind off shows how little the Economist knows and the people willing to believe them.

Why not read the whole article rather than pick and chose the peices that suit your particular agenda.

[Smokemachine]

I'm afraid the war is coming soon.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=732126723472814&set=a.710968452255308.1073741827.704718532880300&type=1&theater

If it is, I'm not sure if this particular image from 2010 is really so relevant to what's happening now...

This is just a reminder to people incase they have slip off from their mind. The red party is a destructive party. They have destroyed Bkk before and have the ability to do it again. There is one Op praising for the red attacking the common citizens and he even "remind" the weekend protesters whether they should come out for protest anot. I shall help to accomplish his will, so all the anti-govt/yellow/student/doctor/nurse/civil servant etc, pls consider again whether you are coming for the protest.

Don't say we never "remind" you.

Edited January 17, 2014 by Smokemachine

[GeorgeO]

There getting brave with daylight attacks now. Give the Weekend Warriors something to think about this weekend.

That is a disgusting response, and you should think twice about making such statements...!

[pipkins]

When a minority that represents the interests of the Bangkok elite attempts to seize control of the country through undemocratic means, this is the result.

And the longer the minority petitions to deny the majority their political rights the worse this kind of violence will get.

I don't want to hear any complaining from the minority because they are bringing it on themselves.

The poor are not going to stand for having an despotic, undemocratic government representing the Bangkok elite foisted upon them for the umpteenth time.

Would be the 19th! They are getting harder and harder to pull off, so thats a good thing. The Courts being a lot older have not cottened on to the fact that there is information and scrutiny now of their carryings on. They don't care, but I am sure they don't realise just how much scrutiny these recent court cases (and more particularly how they all managed to come together at the same time as Suthep is out of the cage) are getting.

I think there are enough people in the army who can use social media and have access to news other than Bluesky. It may be this self education that will make it impossible for the army to come in.

The Judicial Coup cannot work without the Army to enforce it as nobody will take any notice of the decisions as they are so obviously wrong. . Respect my vote getting lots of pics on twitter tonight so thats a step in the right direction for the country.

[newcomer71]

There getting brave with daylight attacks now. Give the Weekend Warriors something to think about this weekend.

That is a disgusting response, and you should think twice about making such statements...!

I totally agree, I jumped the post before but you put it at my attention.

As I expressed already, everyone condoning or promoting violence, any side they are, are only completely out of line and disgusting.

[Anon999]

There getting brave with daylight attacks now. Give the Weekend Warriors something to think about this weekend.

Brave?

They are testing the resolve of the protesters and probing their defences and co-ordinating harrying attacks. Tactical this is

Small attack at Cheag Wattana and enough redshirts gathered to surround the PRRC Rump mob. This send pickups of protesters scurrying to their aid.... Then this.

The big one mayl be rama 4. When the time is right, they will come out and Suthep will be finished. Almost time.!!!!

Nobody on the protests today so what are they doing out there. Time to round em up and bring 3 months of video evidence before the courts. LOL then we will see the impartiallity of the Courts.

I see you have been a TV member long enough to know a lot about Thailand. We have idiots like you in the UK too, Freedom of speech and to demonstrate peacefully is a basic human right. Have you applied for a visa for North Korea yet?

[fab4]

Meanwhile "looking in" at this Thailand crisis from outside the proverbial fishbowl. This latest article from The Economist is well worth a read...

http://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2014/01/thailands-political-crisis

I got as far as

Quote

 
"Her Pheu Thai party, which is the third incarnation of a party founded by 
her brother, the former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was prepared to win 
it. And so the protesters, led by Suthep Thaugsuban, a former deputy prime 
minister of the opposition Democrat Party, returned to the streets on January 
13th. They are now demanding that the very process by which Thailand (usually) 
chooses its governments—ie elections—be junked.

The anti government protestors were calling for a reform of the election process long before Jan. 13. Kind off shows how little the Economist knows and the people willing to believe them.

Well, its good to know that the only mistake that the article made is the date on which the protests began. Thanks for the help!

Well actually the sentence before actually states

"Five weeks ago, mass protests in Bangkok against the government forced the prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, to call an early election."

It was actually about 6 weeks ago that Yingluck dissolved parliament and called elections but lets not split hairs unlike "northernjohn" who writes the whole article off under the mistaken belief that the author meant that the protests didn't start until January 13th. By the very use of the word returned he meant that they had been there before but what's a nuance of the english language got to do with a rant eh, "northernjohn"?

[englishoak]

Meanwhile "looking in" at this Thailand crisis from outside the proverbial fishbowl. This latest article from The Economist is well worth a read...

http://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2014/01/thailands-political-crisis

A good read. Thanks for letting me out of the bowl for a while! BTW, I didn't see the same reporting on the issue of the statement made by the professor about sexually assaulting Yingluck. Did I miss something?

See this: http://www.trust.org/item/20140117102903-gcbzr/ ("The din of misogny at Bangkok protests").

Out of the two views this line resonates most with me

It's a shame that amidst the whistles, posturing and propaganda from both sides, common decency has been lost.

[Cnxforever]

There getting brave with daylight attacks now. Give the Weekend Warriors something to think about this weekend.

hoping for blood in the streets are we! Brave attacking peaceful protesters. Really How f*cked is that?

What we are hoping for is a peacful end to a fascist coup attempt.

The games almost up for Suthep and he has no allies as they have all been exposed and cornered this week by our sharp thinking and acting PM!!!

Enjoy it whllst it lasts as it is the last coup they will be able to stage in Thailand with any luck. Hope this will break the finiancial backs of their backers.

yes I hear the "multible" stages cost them 10 million baht a day - his backers must have deep pockets!

The frightening thing of course is - nobody here gives anything away for free! - They will want to recoup their money after Suthep's "final victory" - and guess how?

While they want to make the public believe this is all about Democracy and whatever - it is just another heist on the big cookie jar - nothing else!

[pookiki]

Meanwhile "looking in" at this Thailand crisis from outside the proverbial fishbowl. This latest article from The Economist is well worth a read...

http://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2014/01/thailands-political-crisis

A good read. Thanks for letting me out of the bowl for a while! BTW, I didn't see the same reporting on the issue of the statement made by the professor about sexually assaulting Yingluck. Did I miss something?

See this: http://www.trust.org/item/20140117102903-gcbzr/ ("The din of misogny at Bangkok protests").

Thanks, again! But none of this has been reported in the local media - English or Thai to my knowledge. Am I right? I do remember one article about a speaker being admonished for using inappropriate language but none of what is documented here. Very sad and appalling.

[Anon999]

When a minority that represents the interests of the Bangkok elite attempts to seize control of the country through undemocratic means, this is the result.

And the longer the minority petitions to deny the majority their political rights the worse this kind of violence will get.

I don't want to hear any complaining from the minority because they are bringing it on themselves.

The poor are not going to stand for having an despotic, undemocratic government representing the Bangkok elite foisted upon them for the umpteenth time.

How much do you know about the poor, it doesn't sound as though you live in Isaan? There are very many people in Isaan that are protesting against the totally corrupt PT caretaker government. The farmers have been screwed and there is no money to pay them. The EC directed the caretaker administration that they were not to use the farmers money to pay them only to find out that this had already been done which is against the their remit. Many are also suffering from the water project and so on and on.

[fab4]

Meanwhile "looking in" at this Thailand crisis from outside the proverbial fishbowl. This latest article from The Economist is well worth a read...

http://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2014/01/thailands-political-crisis

A good read. Thanks for letting me out of the bowl for a while! BTW, I didn't see the same reporting on the issue of the statement made by the professor about sexually assaulting Yingluck. Did I miss something?

Only the good Doctor Prasert Vasinanukorn offering to do vaginal surgery on her, and other unpleasant homilies, such as offering to buy and change her sanitary towel for her

http://uglytruththailand.wordpress.com/2014/01/15/more-sexually-abusive-language-from-suteps-mob/

Classy act, presumably the good Doctor will be on the list of professional people on the "peoples council"

[Prbkk]

No matter who initiated this nasty incident, surely it underlines the need for dialogue and negotiation to end the impasse and move on. Mr Suthep keeps saying no, no no, but it is very apparent that there is no way for him to win this. Where are the moderate voices on his side of the political fence who will sit down with YL to end the lunacy?

It IS lunacy now, not politics. Economic suicide, strong prospect of descent into violence, tourism dead in the water, Japanese investment in doubt. Are they now fighting just for ego?

YL seems to only one who wants to talk and yet she is in the stronger position. For the life of me, I don't get why this guy is so intransigent

[SPIKECM]

Your problem with this argument is that it obviously doesn't stand at the polling booths. There are "very many" people voting UKIP in the UK and there are "very many" Tea Party Americans. "Very many" isn't enough to form a legitimate government, much to their horror. Although I don't live in Issan, to my experience the vast majority of people there are ardent Thaksin supporters...to deny it is just silly.......... this letter I copied from the Economist explains why........

Picture yourself as an uneducated farmer down from the Isaan, full in the knowledge that your elected government was removed by a Bangkok mob. Also, possibly this is your first visit to Krungthep - in your eyes this is a golden city of opulence and excess. You might even feel a sense of despair, since your leaders have told you that this "City of Angels" was built on the backs of the poor.
You also wonder if it is true, that great swathes of real estate in the very area you stand are worth billions of dollars. Your leaders, some who have been educated in a places called England and America, say that the elite who disenfranchised you could have years ago built a water system in the Isaan so you could bring rice to market twice a year, and have water in abundance.
You may recall that your own daughter, who married and went to live in a town called Los Angeles, says her husband told her Los Angeles is really a desert, but the Farang ran long pipes to a river hundreds of miles away to bring water to this town called LA. You think; the Mekong River is just kilometers from our village. I know we Thais are smarter than the Farang. Why didn't these people who stole my vote do the same for us, the Thai people?
Some say Khun Thaksin is an evil man, but how can that be? He came to our village. He tried to help us, but they say he is bad because he bought votes. But I see all the politicians buying votes. Why do these big people hate him so much? My daughter, in this town called LA, says that is the way democracy works. You vote for the politician who will get you things. She says it's the way the guy they call the "Terminator" got elected to the big office in California. I really like that guy Arnalt...Swartser.
Our leaders say we must keep protesting, otherwise these big people will keep stealing from the poor. My son who is in the university in Khon Kaen says the Thai people must keep struggling for democracy; otherwise nothing will change for the poor. That's why I must protest in this "City of Angeles."

When a minority that represents the interests of the Bangkok elite attempts to seize control of the country through undemocratic means, this is the result.

And the longer the minority petitions to deny the majority their political rights the worse this kind of violence will get.

I don't want to hear any complaining from the minority because they are bringing it on themselves.

The poor are not going to stand for having an despotic, undemocratic government representing the Bangkok elite foisted upon them for the umpteenth time.

How much do you know about the poor, it doesn't sound as though you live in Isaan? There are very many people in Isaan that are protesting against the totally corrupt PT caretaker government. The farmers have been screwed and there is no money to pay them. The EC directed the caretaker administration that they were not to use the farmers money to pay them only to find out that this had already been done which is against the their remit. Many are also suffering from the water project and so on and on.

Edited January 17, 2014 by SPIKECM

[Mackie]

Will administrators please act and start removing nonsensical posts by fab4 and company whose obvious intention is to derail this thread. Let's stick to the topic.

As it was said many times, if YL really wanted a peaceful solution she would have postponed the election for second part of May or later. The amnesty bill would be dead and buried. Democrats and moderates off the streets, Suthep left talking to himself. But obviously this current government has its own agenda so they decided to aggravate political crisis.

Edited January 17, 2014 by Mackie

[SPIKECM]

For the same reason as Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Mao Tse Tung and Pol Pot I guess.

No matter who initiated this nasty incident, surely it underlines the need for dialogue and negotiation to end the impasse and move on. Mr Suthep keeps saying no, no no, but it is very apparent that there is no way for him to win this. Where are the moderate voices on his side of the political fence who will sit down with YL to end the lunacy?
It IS lunacy now, not politics. Economic suicide, strong prospect of descent into violence, tourism dead in the water, Japanese investment in doubt. Are they now fighting just for ego?
YL seems to only one who wants to talk and yet she is in the stronger position. For the life of me, I don't get why this guy is so intransigent

[Cnxforever]

"Earlier today, another group of PCAD demonstrators also claimed that they were attacked by stones launched from slingshots during their march on Nares Road in Bang Rak district."

Bangkok residents?

Getting slowly fed up with this?

[Prbkk]

Will administrators please act and start removing nonsensical posts by fab4 and company whose obvious intention is to derail this thread. Let's stick to the topic.

As it was said many times, if YL really wanted a peaceful solution she would have postponed the election for second part of May or later. The amnesty bill would be dead and buried. Democrats and moderates off the streets, Suthep left talking to himself. But obviously this current government has its own agenda so they decided to aggravate political crisis.

We are seeing an escalation of violence because there is no resolution in sight (leaving the question of who is responsible). To get a resolution YL offered May 4,th as an alternative election date if suthep would hold back . He declined. It defies belief.

[Prbkk]

For the same reason as Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Mao Tse Tung and Pol Pot I guess.

No matter who initiated this nasty incident, surely it underlines the need for dialogue and negotiation to end the impasse and move on. Mr Suthep keeps saying no, no no, but it is very apparent that there is no way for him to win this. Where are the moderate voices on his side of the political fence who will sit down with YL to end the lunacy?

It IS lunacy now, not politics. Economic suicide, strong prospect of descent into violence, tourism dead in the water, Japanese investment in doubt. Are they now fighting just for ego?

YL seems to only one who wants to talk and yet she is in the stronger position. For the life of me, I don't get why this guy is so intransigent

I guess so...but who is going to tap him on the shoulder for a quiet word?