Red shirts confront PDRC protesters at Chaeng Wattana rally site

[JRSoul]

If what you imagine is true then why did the Dems decline the opportunity to overthrow the government at the election in February? Suthep continues to tell us that "The People" are with him and they want change, well in a democracy, which Thailand is (at the moment), an election is the instrument of change. In reality, should the Dems be dissolved as a party for denying a significant minority of Thai people the opportunity to vote against PTP?

<deleted>! Where in electoral law does it say that a registered political party has to field candidates?

[Nowhereman60]

If what you imagine is true then why did the Dems decline the opportunity to overthrow the government at the election in February? Suthep continues to tell us that "The People" are with him and they want change, well in a democracy, which Thailand is (at the moment), an election is the instrument of change. In reality, should the Dems be dissolved as a party for denying a significant minority of Thai people the opportunity to vote against PTP?

<deleted>! Where in electoral law does it say that a registered political party has to field candidates?

That's right, why should the second largest party have to field candidates. They will only lose anyway.

[PREM-R]

If what you imagine is true then why did the Dems decline the opportunity to overthrow the government at the election in February? Suthep continues to tell us that "The People" are with him and they want change, well in a democracy, which Thailand is (at the moment), an election is the instrument of change. In reality, should the Dems be dissolved as a party for denying a significant minority of Thai people the opportunity to vote against PTP?

<deleted>! Where in electoral law does it say that a registered political party has to field candidates?

But if you call yourself "a political party" surely that indicates that you are going to take part in 'politics', ie : take part in the political process including elections. If you just want to be a discussion group why not call yourself "The Womens Institute".

[thailiketoo]

An elected government can't be a dictatorship by definition. It may be a corrupt government or a government that stole the election or a group of crooked politicians that got elected but not a dictatorship. Part of a dictatorship is not having elections. You can have a red vote payoff and a yellow vote payoff and a black vote payoff but it is still an election. The person that a military coup appoints is a dictator.

With all due respect..What do you call a demagoguery populist govt that was voted in by an uneducated and uniformed majority that only adhered to the populist polices while staying silent on principles of democrat that the "majority" don't care about or are affected by. Then you have a minority, which happens to pay taxes and pay for a dictatorial majority in schemes that allow 30% of tax payers money to go into PTP pockets.

Before you answer, The person the military coup appointed is a person that allows democracy to continue while the dictatorial regime faltered.

Someone the military accepted that adhere to 15 principles of democracy or a demagogue that adhere to 1 principle of democracy and state "if you don't vote for us we won't help you (phuket)?

Muppets..Gullible muppets.

There is no such thing as the 15 principles of democracy. But don't get me wrong. I don't think many countries in Asia are smart enough to have a democracy. I don't really think you can say Thailand is as intelligent as Australia or Japan eh? Thailand needs to go the way of Singapore and have a strong man to tell the people what to do. So I do agree that Thailand are gullible muppets. Too dumb* for elections that's for sure.

*Sarcasm alert.

Edited January 18, 2014 by thailiketoo

[scorecard]

It would be interesting to see thida, jatuporn, nattawut, and the Ubon man all interviewed together about the current revelations of the rice scam with an interviewer who pushed all of the for specific answers.

Unfortunately not going to happen.

It will happen in due course.

There is a battle on now against a planned military and judicial Coup attempt incase you didn't notice.

Government is in caretater mode and it is the EC refusing to pay them, so once they straighten that out, they'll know whose doors to knock on. Once they realise this and come back on side, you will then be back to saying how stupid and miss led they all are.

Bit of testing out of the defences today and they will be emboldened by this. Shame the army allowed the PRRC to start shooting. Must have been their side or why would the red side of sped off? Proof positive again of planned violence, Armed PRRC thugs and Army Collusion.

Need to re-open Bangkok now and I think a move is afoot....

So you blame the EC for the farmers not being paid?

How so?

Surely the EC has a responsibility to do what is right, proper, and ethical, not take sides by saying OK to immoral methods of finding funds.

[whybother]

It would be interesting to see thida, jatuporn, nattawut, and the Ubon man all interviewed together about the current revelations of the rice scam with an interviewer who pushed all of the for specific answers.

Unfortunately not going to happen.

It will happen in due course.

There is a battle on now against a planned military and judicial Coup attempt incase you didn't notice.

Government is in caretater mode and it is the EC refusing to pay them, so once they straighten that out, they'll know whose doors to knock on. Once they realise this and come back on side, you will then be back to saying how stupid and miss led they all are.

Bit of testing out of the defences today and they will be emboldened by this. Shame the army allowed the PRRC to start shooting. Must have been their side or why would the red side of sped off? Proof positive again of planned violence, Armed PRRC thugs and Army Collusion.

Need to re-open Bangkok now and I think a move is afoot....

It's not the EC's job to pay for the policies of the previous government. The government should have sorted that out before they called an election.

[icare999]

To all the shin haters please tell me why the poor people of this country should not be given the same rights as those with wealth why should they not be allowed to vote the man in Dubai gave these people that vote and now we have the opposition trying to take it away from them and installing an unelected peoples council which will be run by the elite of Thailand every person deserves the chance to better themselves kun Suthep wants to change that if he has his way Thailand will become the new North Korea and if that ever happens we Falangs will be heading for the airports and borders in double time, the time has come for all parties to make dialogue and bring this craziness to a halt before others are killed and injured due to. Someone's self gratification . It is clear to me that by the amount who have been demonstrating that the majority of Thais are not prepared to go on the streets and want to choose by the ballot box on 2 February .

ok ill bite because they sell their votes because many of them are totally brainwashed and not their fault but so uneducated it beggars belief

I really think their should be a simple test in all countries before anyone has the right to vote and put in jeopardy everyone else's lives just because they can be manipulated. I doth mean a hard test something like

1. name 2 political parties or 2 party leaders

2. Are you aware that Thailand has 2 main levels of government Parliament and senate but word so its really simple question or name one MP

3. Answer one of following (a,b or c):-

where does government get its money

a. dont know

b. from taxes

c. its given to them

just very very simple questions but I can assure you at least 50% of Thais rich or poor would fail

[whybother]

If what you imagine is true then why did the Dems decline the opportunity to overthrow the government at the election in February? Suthep continues to tell us that "The People" are with him and they want change, well in a democracy, which Thailand is (at the moment), an election is the instrument of change. In reality, should the Dems be dissolved as a party for denying a significant minority of Thai people the opportunity to vote against PTP?

<deleted>! Where in electoral law does it say that a registered political party has to field candidates?

But if you call yourself "a political party" surely that indicates that you are going to take part in 'politics', ie : take part in the political process including elections. If you just want to be a discussion group why not call yourself "The Womens Institute".

So, basically what you're saying, is that there is no law that says a political party should field candidates and therefore the Democrats shouldn't be dissolved for that reason.

If they were dissolved, then all smaller parties that didn't field candidates in all constituencies should also be dissolved for denying the Thai people an opportunity of voting for someone other than PTP or Democrats.

[PREM-R]

If what you imagine is true then why did the Dems decline the opportunity to overthrow the government at the election in February? Suthep continues to tell us that "The People" are with him and they want change, well in a democracy, which Thailand is (at the moment), an election is the instrument of change. In reality, should the Dems be dissolved as a party for denying a significant minority of Thai people the opportunity to vote against PTP?

<deleted>! Where in electoral law does it say that a registered political party has to field candidates?

But if you call yourself "a political party" surely that indicates that you are going to take part in 'politics', ie : take part in the political process including elections. If you just want to be a discussion group why not call yourself "The Womens Institute".

So, basically what you're saying, is that there is no law that says a political party should field candidates and therefore the Democrats shouldn't be dissolved for that reason.

If they were dissolved, then all smaller parties that didn't field candidates in all constituencies should also be dissolved for denying the Thai people an opportunity of voting for someone other than PTP or Democrats.

There is always room in politics for small parties with regional support who could not put forward candidates on a national basis. However, what we are talking about here is the Thai Democrat party, they are the second largest party in the country and as I said, are denying a significant minority of Thai people the opportunity to vote against PTP. It is not the first time they have done this and therefore I feel it is not unreasonable to ask the question, "should the Dems be dissolved for denying a significant minority of the Thai people from being able to vote against PTP?"

[maxme]

Seems people including Red Shirts are upset with their daily lives being destroyed by protesters. Even Red Shirts need to earn a living either driving vans or taxis.

Pity we didn't hear the same complaints a few years ago last time Bangkok was under siege . . .

thats a real waste of typing effort on your part. What a facile post.

there were thousands and thousands of complaints all over thai Visa for one. Are you really living in such a small cocoon? You either were not here or just posted a thought from your head without checking it... Go on say it again... there were no complaints a few years ago....... etc.

There were complaints and the army acted on them and came out and shot 90 people dead. Or did you forget that as well. Much as we don't want people ending up dead, it would be nice if the army, after 18 times of getting it wrong, finally realised that right was on the side of the portion of the country that respect democracy and only put politicians into government through election..... [insert thaksin bought votes here - I done it for you and It will vitrually double the length of your posting]

I often wonder why people set up accounts on here then say such bizarre things.

'such bizarre things' is your opinion. Others have other opinions and have every right to have other opinions.

So you seem to be saying that the army should take sides, and you have decided which side that should be.

'respect democracy' surely your not talking about the current / caretaker gov't.

And he wasn't saying that you couldn't express your opinion, but it is tiresome to hear when one is against one party, one most belong to the other. People with that kind of logic have one track minds.

[icare999]

Pity we didn't hear the same complaints a few years ago last time Bangkok was under siege . . .

It's totally different. In a democracy you vote for change. But the only thing you can do in a military dictatorship is to protest. To topple a dictatorship with violence is justified. To try to do so in a democracy is not.

This is a simple concept that all western governments understand.

So finally you agree with us that this is all about bringing down the current dictatorship, although you would have to accept that the violence is coming from the reds, not the anti-government protesters, wouldn't you?

An elected government can't be a dictatorship by definition. It may be a corrupt government or a government that stole the election or a group of crooked politicians that got elected but not a dictatorship. Part of a dictatorship is not having elections. You can have a red vote payoff and a yellow vote payoff and a black vote payoff but it is still an election. The person that a military coup appoints is a dictator.

really what about Hitler elected at least once what about north korea always elected what about Zimbabwie

All great examples pf democracy but of course since they were elected their is no dictatorship and by the way Stalin and all communist states but their dictators changed sometimes

What a load of BS

[thailiketoo]

An elected government can't be a dictatorship by definition. It may be a corrupt government or a government that stole the election or a group of crooked politicians that got elected but not a dictatorship. Part of a dictatorship is not having elections. You can have a red vote payoff and a yellow vote payoff and a black vote payoff but it is still an election. The person that a military coup appoints is a dictator.

really what about Hitler elected at least once what about north korea always elected what about Zimbabwie

All great examples pf democracy but of course since they were elected their is no dictatorship and by the way Stalin and all communist states but their dictators changed sometimes

What a load of BS

I agree with you. Thailand does not need an election. The people are not smart enough.

[JAG]

I take it the load of BS to which you refer is your own warped and very paternalist ( the more unkind would say rascist - see post 157) view of democracy and how it should apply in Thailand?

By the way, you left Pol Pot off your list of the usual suspects!

[whybother]

There is always room in politics for small parties with regional support who could not put forward candidates on a national basis. However, what we are talking about here is the Thai Democrat party, they are the second largest party in the country and as I said, are denying a significant minority of Thai people the opportunity to vote against PTP. It is not the first time they have done this and therefore I feel it is not unreasonable to ask the question, "should the Dems be dissolved for denying a significant minority of the Thai people from being able to vote against PTP?"

Different rules for different parties?