Protesters party, and a familiar dread rises: Thai editorial

[pipkins]

They celebrate and enjoy themselves because they know that better days are coming for Thailand.

Keep it up Thai people......it won't be long before we see the back of this criminal Siwanatra clan.

Well if the Thai people Get Sethup and his mob, you can say BYE BYE Thailand, FARANGS WILL BE OUT MATE

They were all dancing on the tables at the last coup... literally as many hoped the hated Social Order policy and dress codes would be repealed.

THEN, came FBA 2. Most newbies will know nothing about this, and I'm not enlightnening them.

There are very serious documents about this and to back up the opposition to this act, they are suggesting to read the posts on Thaivisa.com.

Back then during the heady days of the Junta, the expat community swamped the forum with threads on this, land, work etc. The people behind that are back.... This is them and their ilk supporting Suthep.

Carful what you wish for.... Thaksin may have got rid of most of the Nudity (soon came back after the coup In noticed) but this lot will have your house, business the lot from you.

And you 'll have as much protecion in law as Yingluck is getting now. Being a yellow shirt poster on Thai Visa won't cut it with the judges either.

[jaideeguy]

Maybe LOS just needs another holiday?? Is that what the protesters are telling us?? Sanook!!!!

[Ulic]

Been in thailand through yellow, red and antigoverment protests. The latest is the most peaceful and sincere I have seen. Red was the worst one, seemed like a gang of drunk thugs. Sadly lives have been lost for 1 man's dictatorial ambitions.

Not sure if you are referring to Thaksin, Suthep or anyone in particular.

[smoochy]

Was offered free lunch yesterday in front of Central World. Pad See Ew looked quite nice but I'd already eaten. Have to admit that it was very sweet of the smiling old ladies to offer free food to a farang wandering around the "party".

[CNXnamjai]

Thailand has been run by folks like Thaksin, Suthep, and Sondhi for decades before any one of them were born. The army has staged 18 or 19 coups since 1932. Isn't that enough proof that no Thai group or government is capable of staying power and effective leadership without corruption? This fight is about passing around the skim money. When back room establishment characters start wanting to redistribute the corrupt skim, they stage a coup. The army takes care of whichever group seems to have more clout/money/influence over the masses.

Thailand's military was funded by the US in the late forties, fifties and sixties to help defeat communism. The Thai army as we know it didn't happen by magic. It happened with the assistance of the global military/industrial complex. First during the Cold War and then Vietnam. The modern Thai army is a creature of US backing. Foreign investment in Thailand was facilitated by the perception that the country was "secure" by its US funded investment in Thai military force. Do you think that the Japanese and others would have invested heavily in Thailand if they didn't have a US backed military to secure its business interests as their industrial engine grew after WWII? Of course not.

The initial big Thailand money came from siphoning off military , public and private sector aid largely by the US and foreign governments and firms. The sex trade facilitating the Vietnam Era R & R and its reciprocal drug trade in the early sixties, when the French left Vietnam, funded the early evolution of Thailand from a third world nation to a "developing" nation. The military engine of Thailand was in powerful and escalated control ever since the Japanese surrender in WWII. By the way, the 71st anniversary of Thailand's declaration of war against the US and the UK and its alliance with Japan is coming up next week on January 25.

The Bangkok real estate boom in the eighties and the building of "beautiful Bangkok" was facilitated by money laundering, corrupted skim, and drug networking. The basic infrastructure and building was secured with cash laundering through drug and sex trade money and of course by foreign investment and aid skim. Do you really think that the kind money that built Bangkok in the 50s, 60s, 70s, and particularly the 80s came from the rice fields? Thailand and particularly Bangkok is the direct result of drugs, sex, and cheap labor, corrupted skim from foreign military aid/support and private investment skim and Mr. Thai 20%s backed by the Thai military.

The Thai press consistently ignores Thailand's real history, and its historical facts as described by numerous Thai and foreign scholars. The censoring out of factual information and historical events that long preceded Mr. Thaksin, Mr. Suthep or the faded out Mr. Sondhi. The press seems to make haphazard references to the 2008 airport closing, 2010 killings, and the 2006 coup. The press writes, more often than not, as if Thai political conflicts began in 2006 with Mr. Thaksin. This is clearly shading and obscuring the truth and censoring the Thai people from true Thai political conflicts. The Thai press is part of the Thai problem and not part of its solution.

Text is so essential I quote it in full. YES!

[CNXnamjai]

It's a nice effort to cling to the Thaksin is the root cause of the social upheaval argument. That Thaksin didn't just "go to ground" as did his predecessors when the "calling came" is really the historical problem of Thai corruption and feeding off the opportunistic system, if you're in the right tier of society that is. That's exactly the problem. Thaksin is actually the initiator of trying to channel some of that skim back to the underclass which disenfranchised the establishment and woke them up that he is not planning to just "go to ground, but instead is actually trying to embrace them in some way. Maybe his goal was self serving, but at least he was identifying them and found his own way to make them feel part of the system as is not the case before him.

That there is an "implicit" understanding that they "go to ground" and leave the trough when they have had more than sufficient take and skim is exactly what is at the root of the festering problem. They are at the stage of fighting over who is at the trough and who says enough is enough. Thaksin, like democracy as you put it, is but a tool of the establishment that stirs the force of movement to get them to "go to ground." You are right in stating that this will not happen in this generation of politics, but it is the press that needs to evolve in representing the truth that educates subsequent generations. Distorting the facts and censoring the history is not the right path if you want constructive change for the benefit of the underclass. Part of their frustration is the sense of participation in the truth.

It is not a reasonable and positive evolution of Thai politics for future generations to have the people "believe" that a Suthep or Sondhi style of politics backed by a military threat and the appointment of a "people's council" designated by the fox in the chicken coup is a "democratic way." Nor is the appointment of another establishment guy who agrees to go to ground when the others say he's through. The press should make this clear and stand by the idea of one man one vote and legally elected officials and fair and equal representation and application of law. The press should place values on these characteristics and not pander to emotions and censorship by the establishment.

Knowledge is power and the majority Thai underclass shouldn't be denied the factual information and reality of Thai politics and the Thai game as it has been and is played. Whether they gain any power will remain to be seen, but they should be armed with a proper history. With real history and facts, better education and health care, the Thai underclass will continue to get stronger. This concern is really the root of the problem. The Thai establishment eventually has to concede the truth and embrace the underclass although they look like they will be kicking and screaming a lot longer.

At the end of the day... once the delusional words have disappeared... it comes down to... what constitutes a human being: you need food/sustenance, clothes, shelter, medicine. It's universal. Deniying large parts of a populace these basic requirements... reminds of the famous Marie Antoinette's "Let them eat cake"... and the results.

So, this is about inequality. Once people have been forced into a corner unable to survive... they'll fight.

[Spartakos]

Been in thailand through yellow, red and antigoverment protests. The latest is the most peaceful and sincere I have seen. Red was the worst one, seemed like a gang of drunk thugs. Sadly lives have been lost for 1 man's dictatorial ambitions.

Not sure if you are referring to Thaksin, Suthep or anyone in particular.

Suthep will never have enough leverage to pull something like that off. Dr. T on the other hand is a very serious contender.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[Ozymandias]

"If the crisis ends well, with a "few" casualties, real history will have been made."

It's not about making history. It's about saving the country from financial disaster and chaos.

Neither the government nor the protesters seem at all interested in doing as you say. Sad.

[BSJ]

It's a nice effort to cling to the Thaksin is the root cause of the social upheaval argument. That Thaksin didn't just "go to ground" as did his predecessors when the "calling came" is really the historical problem of Thai corruption and feeding off the opportunistic system, if you're in the right tier of society that is. That's exactly the problem. Thaksin is actually the initiator of trying to channel some of that skim back to the underclass which disenfranchised the establishment and woke them up that he is not planning to just "go to ground, but instead is actually trying to embrace them in some way. Maybe his goal was self serving, but at least he was identifying them and found his own way to make them feel part of the system as is not the case before him.

That there is an "implicit" understanding that they "go to ground" and leave the trough when they have had more than sufficient take and skim is exactly what is at the root of the festering problem. They are at the stage of fighting over who is at the trough and who says enough is enough. Thaksin, like democracy as you put it, is but a tool of the establishment that stirs the force of movement to get them to "go to ground." You are right in stating that this will not happen in this generation of politics, but it is the press that needs to evolve in representing the truth that educates subsequent generations. Distorting the facts and censoring the history is not the right path if you want constructive change for the benefit of the underclass. Part of their frustration is the sense of participation in the truth.

It is not a reasonable and positive evolution of Thai politics for future generations to have the people "believe" that a Suthep or Sondhi style of politics backed by a military threat and the appointment of a "people's council" designated by the fox in the chicken coup is a "democratic way." Nor is the appointment of another establishment guy who agrees to go to ground when the others say he's through. The press should make this clear and stand by the idea of one man one vote and legally elected officials and fair and equal representation and application of law. The press should place values on these characteristics and not pander to emotions and censorship by the establishment.

Knowledge is power and the majority Thai underclass shouldn't be denied the factual information and reality of Thai politics and the Thai game as it has been and is played. Whether they gain any power will remain to be seen, but they should be armed with a proper history. With real history and facts, better education and health care, the Thai underclass will continue to get stronger. This concern is really the root of the problem. The Thai establishment eventually has to concede the truth and embrace the underclass although they look like they will be kicking and screaming a lot longer.

At the end of the day... once the delusional words have disappeared... it comes down to... what constitutes a human being: you need food/sustenance, clothes, shelter, medicine. It's universal. Deniying large parts of a populace these basic requirements... reminds of the famous Marie Antoinette's "Let them eat cake"... and the results.

So, this is about inequality. Once people have been forced into a corner unable to survive... they'll fight.

So, this is about inequality. Once people have been forced into a corner unable to survive... they'll fight......and some will die....but will they die in vain?

[Gone]

Was offered free lunch yesterday in front of Central World. Pad See Ew looked quite nice but I'd already eaten. Have to admit that it was very sweet of the smiling old ladies to offer free food to a farang wandering around the "party".

Why would a farang be "wondering" around a Thai political protest site in the first place? Are you the brother of Jeff Savage?

[Gone]

Was offered free lunch yesterday in front of Central World. Pad See Ew looked quite nice but I'd already eaten. Have to admit that it was very sweet of the smiling old ladies to offer free food to a farang wandering around the "party".

Why would a farang be "wondering" around a Thai political protest site in the first place? Are you the brother of Jeff Savage?

[SpoliaOpima]

Suthep has already made it known that he has a dislike of farangs. Still you have farangs on here who love and admire Suthep, it is a one way love affair.

Do you have a reference for that? I've never heard or read that he had such an opinion.

[MrSlatersParrot]

It's a nice effort to cling to the Thaksin is the root cause of the social upheaval argument. That Thaksin didn't just "go to ground" as did his predecessors when the "calling came" is really the historical problem of Thai corruption and feeding off the opportunistic system, if you're in the right tier of society that is. That's exactly the problem. Thaksin is actually the initiator of trying to channel some of that skim back to the underclass which disenfranchised the establishment and woke them up that he is not planning to just "go to ground, but instead is actually trying to embrace them in some way. Maybe his goal was self serving, but at least he was identifying them and found his own way to make them feel part of the system as is not the case before him.

That there is an "implicit" understanding that they "go to ground" and leave the trough when they have had more than sufficient take and skim is exactly what is at the root of the festering problem. They are at the stage of fighting over who is at the trough and who says enough is enough. Thaksin, like democracy as you put it, is but a tool of the establishment that stirs the force of movement to get them to "go to ground." You are right in stating that this will not happen in this generation of politics, but it is the press that needs to evolve in representing the truth that educates subsequent generations. Distorting the facts and censoring the history is not the right path if you want constructive change for the benefit of the underclass. Part of their frustration is the sense of participation in the truth.

It is not a reasonable and positive evolution of Thai politics for future generations to have the people "believe" that a Suthep or Sondhi style of politics backed by a military threat and the appointment of a "people's council" designated by the fox in the chicken coup is a "democratic way." Nor is the appointment of another establishment guy who agrees to go to ground when the others say he's through. The press should make this clear and stand by the idea of one man one vote and legally elected officials and fair and equal representation and application of law. The press should place values on these characteristics and not pander to emotions and censorship by the establishment.

Knowledge is power and the majority Thai underclass shouldn't be denied the factual information and reality of Thai politics and the Thai game as it has been and is played. Whether they gain any power will remain to be seen, but they should be armed with a proper history. With real history and facts, better education and health care, the Thai underclass will continue to get stronger. This concern is really the root of the problem. The Thai establishment eventually has to concede the truth and embrace the underclass although they look like they will be kicking and screaming a lot longer.

Excellent!

The trouble with the yellow shirt protagonists on TV is they deploy a very partial western rationale to their critique of Thaksin as if comparing him with say a politician at Westminster.

They are a bit sniffy about him and about the poor too.

Yet they back the military, the coupists, the suspension of democracy.

Weird. It's unravelling though.

Rather Thaksin should be compared for all his thai faults but also with his undoubted achievements to the total inadequacy of his opponents. Turn the spyglass around and what do you see?

They seem to have broke the mould with him but I think his sister may yet get the Nobel Peace prize.

WHo knows.

[Thait Spot]

It's a nice effort to cling to the Thaksin is the root cause of the social upheaval argument. That Thaksin didn't just "go to ground" as did his predecessors when the "calling came" is really the historical problem of Thai corruption and feeding off the opportunistic system, if you're in the right tier of society that is. That's exactly the problem. Thaksin is actually the initiator of trying to channel some of that skim back to the underclass which disenfranchised the establishment and woke them up that he is not planning to just "go to ground, but instead is actually trying to embrace them in some way. Maybe his goal was self serving, but at least he was identifying them and found his own way to make them feel part of the system as is not the case before him.

That there is an "implicit" understanding that they "go to ground" and leave the trough when they have had more than sufficient take and skim is exactly what is at the root of the festering problem. They are at the stage of fighting over who is at the trough and who says enough is enough. Thaksin, like democracy as you put it, is but a tool of the establishment that stirs the force of movement to get them to "go to ground." You are right in stating that this will not happen in this generation of politics, but it is the press that needs to evolve in representing the truth that educates subsequent generations. Distorting the facts and censoring the history is not the right path if you want constructive change for the benefit of the underclass. Part of their frustration is the sense of participation in the truth.

It is not a reasonable and positive evolution of Thai politics for future generations to have the people "believe" that a Suthep or Sondhi style of politics backed by a military threat and the appointment of a "people's council" designated by the fox in the chicken coup is a "democratic way." Nor is the appointment of another establishment guy who agrees to go to ground when the others say he's through. The press should make this clear and stand by the idea of one man one vote and legally elected officials and fair and equal representation and application of law. The press should place values on these characteristics and not pander to emotions and censorship by the establishment.

Knowledge is power and the majority Thai underclass shouldn't be denied the factual information and reality of Thai politics and the Thai game as it has been and is played. Whether they gain any power will remain to be seen, but they should be armed with a proper history. With real history and facts, better education and health care, the Thai underclass will continue to get stronger. This concern is really the root of the problem. The Thai establishment eventually has to concede the truth and embrace the underclass although they look like they will be kicking and screaming a lot longer.

Excellent!

The trouble with the yellow shirt protagonists on TV is they deploy a very partial western rationale to their critique of Thaksin as if comparing him with say a politician at Westminster.

They are a bit sniffy about him and about the poor too.

Yet they back the military, the coupists, the suspension of democracy.

Weird. It's unravelling though.

Rather Thaksin should be compared for all his thai faults but also with his undoubted achievements to the total inadequacy of his opponents. Turn the spyglass around and what do you see?

They seem to have broke the mould with him but I think his sister may yet get the Nobel Peace prize.

WHo knows.

She's more likely to get the Bang Kwang prize

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[EricBerg]

"If the crisis ends well, with a "few" casualties, real history will have been made."

It's not about making history. It's about saving the country from financial disaster and chaos.

Neither the government nor the protesters seem at all interested in doing as you say. Sad.

The protesters and/or dems may not be much good either in leading the country, but they will not go on with the rice scheme, nor will they go for the 2.2 trillion plan. So they save the country from financial disaster. And it will be a whole lot easier to get rid of them when new, not corrupt leadership emerges.

The cost of getting rid of the shinamaffia already is very high and will be higher. The bad guy in Dubai will not yet surrender. He will try to destroy that what he can no longer have.

[Boxclever]

Suthep...Love it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI4Pu0olT34&feature=player_detailpage

Edited January 18, 2014 by Boxclever

[Cricketnut]

Jollyman: Well if the Thai people Get Sethup and his mob, you can say BYE BYE Thailand, FARANGS WILL BE OUT MATE

chooka: Suthep has already made it known that he has a dislike of farangs. Still you have farangs on here who love and admire Suthep, it is a one way love affair.

As I said before......I think you got this information from your local Som Tam lady.

But even if it is true......I am willing to sacrifice my little self for the good of this country.

Well pack your bags Sunshine and see you back in Greece, where you are surely better off.

Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE 8.2 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[geriatrickid]

They celebrate and enjoy themselves because they know that better days are coming for Thailand.

Keep it up Thai people......it won't be long before we see the back of this criminal Siwanatra clan.

I see. You advocate more trouble. Nice.

The longer this keeps up, the more damage is inflicted on the Thai economy, the mental health of those living and working in the affected protest zones and the more it polarizes the nation. . Most rational people want this to stop. Peaceful people want the Reds, the Yellows, the Blacks and whatever colour is trending at the moment to take a deep breath and to go away. It is far more likely that we will see the backs of foreigners as they flee if civil disorder takes hold and the economy collapses. Civil insurrection never ends well, and what you encourage will inevitably result in more deaths and more damage to Thailand.

As the article mentions, there have been multiple protests before this one and multiple deaths. Can you name any of the "martyrs" who have died during these protests? The protestors killed recently, the protestors in 2010 or the protestors in the decades before are unknown to people like you because the reality is that they are expendable and not important just as long as you get your wish. People are dying for nothing. Commercial enterprises and associated livelihoods are being torn asunder for nothing, Lives are disrupted for nothing. It all seems romantic today, but then you aren't the person maimed or mourning the loss of a loved one.

[anon8]

The party's over

It's time to call it a day

They've burst your pretty balloon

It's all over, my friend

Nope. It is only beginning.

[Skywalker69]

Numbers are down, they left (no) Democracy Monument as nobody was showing up anymore, There are maybe 100 people on Rama VIII

bridge.

"I know it's over, but it never really began"

Keep on dreaming.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[fasteddie]

Thailand has been run by folks like Thaksin, Suthep, and Sondhi for decades before any one of them were born. The army has staged 18 or 19 coups since 1932. Isn't that enough proof that no Thai group or government is capable of staying power and effective leadership without corruption? This fight is about passing around the skim money. When back room establishment characters start wanting to redistribute the corrupt skim, they stage a coup. The army takes care of whichever group seems to have more clout/money/influence over the masses.

Thailand's military was funded by the US in the late forties, fifties and sixties to help defeat communism. The Thai army as we know it didn't happen by magic. It happened with the assistance of the global military/industrial complex. First during the Cold War and then Vietnam. The modern Thai army is a creature of US backing. Foreign investment in Thailand was facilitated by the perception that the country was "secure" by its US funded investment in Thai military force. Do you think that the Japanese and others would have invested heavily in Thailand if they didn't have a US backed military to secure its business interests as their industrial engine grew after WWII? Of course not.

The initial big Thailand money came from siphoning off military , public and private sector aid largely by the US and foreign governments and firms. The sex trade facilitating the Vietnam Era R & R and its reciprocal drug trade in the early sixties, when the French left Vietnam, funded the early evolution of Thailand from a third world nation to a "developing" nation. The military engine of Thailand was in powerful and escalated control ever since the Japanese surrender in WWII. By the way, the 71st anniversary of Thailand's declaration of war against the US and the UK and its alliance with Japan is coming up next week on January 25.

The Bangkok real estate boom in the eighties and the building of "beautiful Bangkok" was facilitated by money laundering, corrupted skim, and drug networking. The basic infrastructure and building was secured with cash laundering through drug and sex trade money and of course by foreign investment and aid skim. Do you really think that the kind money that built Bangkok in the 50s, 60s, 70s, and particularly the 80s came from the rice fields? Thailand and particularly Bangkok is the direct result of drugs, sex, and cheap labor, corrupted skim from foreign military aid/support and private investment skim and Mr. Thai 20%s backed by the Thai military.

The Thai press consistently ignores Thailand's real history, and its historical facts as described by numerous Thai and foreign scholars. The censoring out of factual information and historical events that long preceded Mr. Thaksin, Mr. Suthep or the faded out Mr. Sondhi. The press seems to make haphazard references to the 2008 airport closing, 2010 killings, and the 2006 coup. The press writes, more often than not, as if Thai political conflicts began in 2006 with Mr. Thaksin. This is clearly shading and obscuring the truth and censoring the Thai people from true Thai political conflicts. The Thai press is part of the Thai problem and not part of its solution.

Though the great difference is the Thaksin equation, he didn't go to ground for 10 years as most all past PM's who fell did, later returning as elder statesmen and eventually political players again. No, Thaksin refused to go to ground, and has since stirred up a gargantuan mess for the nation. His actions have been quite different than the traditional ones, and how he has harnessed a multiple-counter-opposing philosophy political machine, with violence prone enforcer wing, to do it.

Of course the Kow Tow post-feudal mindset has infused Thailand's culture and thus it's political sub-culture since 'Thailand day one' and before as Siam. Erasing that morbid influence will only happen after multi-generational exposure to alternatives in world cultures. That process has started thanks to the internet generation, but it is not going to come to fruition in this political generation. That said, the process is started and these rallies, even if lead by charismatic, mid-generational, post-feudal over-lords, was not possible without harnessing the calmer, but angrier, elements of the internet- generation and the more worldly and informed middle class, connected enough to know things have gone badly off the rails yet again.

I've said it before, and it goes counter to the perception that is being laid out for you to believe, this is not about Suthep, beyond his ability to rouse the people around him, it is the fact they have been aroused from their ennui and are acting on long suppressed feelings about their countries direction.

There are many cries that Suthep is a proto-fascist in waiting for power,

but that clearly ignores that the country is presently controlled by a fascist cabal lead by a industrialist.

Fascism tends to include a belief in the supremacy of one national or ethnic group, a contempt for democracy, an insistence on obedience to a powerful leader, and a strong demagogic approach

1 Shinwatra clan, the other chinese-decent overlords and their international business interests.

2 Democracy is a tool, but in practice is bought out and suppressed, other than the facade for PR purposes

3 We know who the entire parliamentary majority listens to, and jumps when he speaks, and it is not the PM

4 So anyone want to say the Red Leaders are not demagogues?

Will all corruption stop if this government goes? No of course not. Will it be dialed back? Yes to a some extent, but how much is never clear to see. And it is also about how you define corruption. But will it return from it's current road to pure fascism, and malignant form of uber-corruption it is on now? Well with a Shin clan return to power, it seems quite unlikely to improve, and more than likely to worsen considerably, particularly if it is entrenched at the time the figure head passes from the scene. Well, we may find out in our lifetimes, but for the moment we must see if the battle for general perceptions is won or lost in the street, and the forums that leach perceptions to around the world. And wonder if the pressure becomes so great that Thaksin has to get out of the kitchen and stop stirring the pot.

"Fascism tends to include a belief in the supremacy of one national or ethnic group, a contempt for democracy, an insistence on obedience to a powerful leader, and a strong demagogic approach"

And that is a perfect description of the PDRC!

[smoochy]

Was offered free lunch yesterday in front of Central World. Pad See Ew looked quite nice but I'd already eaten. Have to admit that it was very sweet of the smiling old ladies to offer free food to a farang wandering around the "party".

Why would a farang be "wondering" around a Thai political protest site in the first place? Are you the brother of Jeff Savage?

"Wandering", not "wondering". Had some shopping to do if it's all the same to you.

[willyumiii]

Why do I feel that some are very disappointed that this has not turned into the horrible, violent, bloodbath so many predicted ( hoped ) it would be?

So far, I have gained respect for all involved.

I hope the cool hearts and minds continue to prevail.

Edited January 19, 2014 by willyumiii

[johnmcc6]

They celebrate and enjoy themselves because they know that better days are coming for Thailand.

Keep it up Thai people......it won't be long before we see the back of this criminal Siwanatra clan.

Well if the Thai people Get Sethup and his mob, you can say BYE BYE Thailand, FARANGS WILL BE OUT MATE

Now why would anyone get rid of farangs? First they have international agreements with many countries. Second a huge number of BIG companies are farang owned and would kill the economy if messed with. They also get billions in overseas dollars from pensioners. It would kill the tourist industry if they kicked us all out and the p r that would go with it. Never happen.

[KimoMax]

The Protesters Signature Song and Obsessive, Compulsive, Repetative 8 Bars (about 20 seconds of music and lyrics) Circus Wagon Calliope syle is nauseating. The Protesters play that song Non-Stop.

The music gives a Circus and Carnival feel to the Protest.

A Rallie and Protest against a Government is not a Game and should not be construed to be a Party, Carnival, or Circus type of Atmosphere.

[Billmont]

My gf went to Ratchaprasong yesterday and said that the people on stage were reasoning with the protesters why not to go home, and it would only take 2 more days until they won.

I cannot quite get my head around what goes through these protesters minds, (any protesters for that matter). They go to protest at something as they obviously feel amazingly strongly about it. They must realize that what they want is extremely hard to achieve. Yet a few days in and they are frustrated that they have not won, and they want to pack their bags and head off.

On another note,apparently if you want some free money, go pick up one of the containers of free rice being served at the protests. That is where the protest money is being distributed. My gf on hearing this in Big C, looked around to see if she could confirm it first hand, purely for research purposes, rather than monetary gain i may add.

Paid to protest? Hard to believe, but I love the way they are doing it if that is correct.

I think in Chinese "rice" relates to wealth so very appropriate.

My SIL & MIL were travelling to visit relatives when their car got a flat.They could not change the wheel themselves and walked to a few houses nearby to ask for help. they came across two old women and asked for some men to help change the tyre. All in Bangkok protesting they were told. MIL never one to miss a chance to chat said that she was surprised that this was a yellow shirt area. We are not was the reply but we were offered THB 2,000 each and in my family we had 4 who went so THB 8000 was not bad for a few days work. When asked how long would they protest she just said when the arrived in Bangkok they took their ID cards and wont give them back or pay them until replacements arrive and they had to be enthusiastic. MIL had plenty of time to chat as they had to wait until a cousin came the 30km to change the wheel. Asked how they would vote she was told as normal and PTP. Another story MIL has a cousin who is a nurse in a hospital in a large town near Korat and visits Mil every month. She phoned to say she would not be able to visit this month as she was off to Bangkok to protest. MIL said she was surprised as she had never ever spoken about politics. The cousin said she did not want to go but the hospital bosses told all off duty staff had to go and protest with the veiled threat that they would lose their job if they refused. I have no reason to disbelieve these two incidents as MIL dont like red or yellow shirts and no reason to lie to my wife who is also not interested in politics. Looks like both colour shirts use the same tactics. I also try to be neutral but thought this might interest some and scorned at by others

[animatic]

And even more so depicts the cult of Thaksin surrounding the PTP government in caretaker mode.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app