'Respect my vote' - Thai election supporters speak out

[webfact]

'Respect my vote' - Thai election supporters speak out
by Apilaporn VECHAKIJ

BANGKOK, January 18, 2014 (AFP) - Angered by opposition protests seeking to thwart upcoming polls, a burgeoning pro-election movement in Thailand is taking a stand to demand their votes are respected, with candlelight vigils and Facebook campaigns.

Seeking a middle ground in a bitterly divisive political conflict, the kingdom's newest street activist group aims to challenge anti-government demonstrators who want to install an unelected "people's council" to run the country.

"We want to vote. We want to vote! - February 2, go to vote!," several hundred campaigners chanted while holding candles in a park in central Bangkok this week.

"Now Thai people don't listen to one another, so we want them to see the light instead," said one of the campaign organisers, who asked not to be named for fear of being targeted by the demonstrators.

"Our intention is to tell the protesters, 'please stop, because we have suffered enough'," added the activist, who helped to organise the rally through social media after seeing police officers wounded in the mass opposition demos gripping the city.

Opponents of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra have staged more than two months of street protests aimed at forcing her elected government from office and installing an appointed body to oversee loosely defined reforms such as an end to alleged vote buying.

They aim to curb the political dominance of Yingluck's billionaire brother, fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, whom they accuse of controlling the government from self-exile.

But a growing number of Thais are starting to speak out to insist that the protests are not in their name.

Several Facebook pages supporting the election and seeking a peaceful solution have been set up, following street violence in which eight people have been killed and hundreds wounded. People have posted photographs of themselves online holding signs which read "Respect My Vote".

The pro-election supporters are mostly Bangkok residents ranging from professors to university students, activists and celebrities, carrying out symbolic activities such as releasing white balloons and wearing white shirts as a sign of neutrality in the country's colour-coded political conflict.

Making voices heard
"The protesters have generalised that all Bangkokians are on their side, but we are the people who have been frustrated and pressured for a long time," said Patcharee Angkoontassaneeyarat, the administrator of one of the pro-election Facebook pages.

"The protests have gone beyond the limits of our patience. We also want to make our voices heard," added Patcharee, whose Facebook slogan "That's enough" has received more than 40,000 "likes".

Thailand has been rocked by years of often-violent demonstrations by rival protest movements -- notably the royalist "Yellow Shirts" and their arch-rivals the "Red Shirts", who are broadly supportive of Yingluck and her older brother, ousted former premier Thaksin.

The current protesters say Yingluck is a puppet for her brother who controls her two-year-old government from overseas, where he fled in 2008 to avoid going to jail for a corruption conviction.

Protests by the Yellow Shirts helped to eject Thaksin or his allies from power three times, while support from the Red Shirts swept Yingluck to power in 2011 following a deadly military crackdown on their pro-Thaksin street protests.

The opposition protesters now on the streets are a mixture of former Yellow Shirts, royalists, southerners, urban middle class and other Thaksin opponents.

Experts say a "third voice" is now spreading -- mainly though social media -- among people who oppose the protests.

"They are people not only in Bangkok but also in towns in other provinces who have been patient up to now, but one day they just could not stand it anymore," Puangthong Pawakapan, professor of political science at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University, told AFP.

Some of those who have dared to speak out in opposition to the anti-government protests have received a hostile response from friends who hold different views.

"They asked why didn't I help the country? Why didn't I blow whistles with them?" law student Amonteera Pratumtong told AFP while holding a flickering candle in her hand.

"I told them I can make my own choice."


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-01-18

[Nowhereman60]

The voice of the people is now come out. Respect their rights to live and work without blocking their roads and building.

[scorecard]

The voice of the people is now come out. Respect their rights to live and work without blocking their roads and building.

The opposite is also valid - 'respect my right to protest'.

[pedro01]

And not forgetting "Respect my Tax"

[Nowhereman60]

The anti-government motto "do as I say not as I do"

[Mackie]

The voice of the people is now come out. Respect their rights to live and work without blocking their roads and building.

You mean the voice of the people is now coming out. But the voice of the people was coming out in 2010. They also wanted their rights to live and work without some weird people blocking their roads and buildings. Moreover they did not want their city and their buildings burned down.

Were you playing the same tune in 2010? I bet you not.

Edited January 18, 2014 by Mackie

[MobileContent]

The voice of the people is now come out. Respect their rights to live and work without blocking their roads and building.

The opposite is also valid - 'respect my right to protest'.

Sure but they should not block government buildings and roads.

[MobileContent]

The voice of the people is now come out. Respect their rights to live and work without blocking their roads and building.

You mean the people is now coming out. But the was of the people was coming out in 2010. They also wanted their rights to live and work without some weird people blocking their roads and buildings. Moreover they did not want their city and their buildings burned down.

Were you playing the same tune in 2010? I bet you not.

Buildings were burned down after the army killed demonstrators.

In the beginning the red shirt demos had no violence. If the police start shooting on the current demonstrators and popping off a hundred of them, you can be assured that the hardcore splinter group will start burning down buildings too, my guess starting with Shinawatra I, II and III buildings.

[MobileContent]

The voice of the people is now come out. Respect their rights to live and work without blocking their roads and building.

The opposite is also valid - 'respect my right to protest'.

Sure but they should not block government buildings and roads.

Sure beats invading hospitals and setting buildings on fire though.

We are now in 2014 and not 2010. One wrong doesn't make the other right.

[Tchooptip]

The anti-government motto "do as I say not as I do"

100% same motto for the government, + "please do not look at what we do"

Edited January 18, 2014 by Tchooptip

[IMA_FARANG]

I respect your right to vote, but not your intelligence to be a voter.

Because, as the current government has shown on many occasions, your vote is meaningless.

This current government has many times taken their "mandate from the people" .... your vote .... and then simply subverted the laws to their own self-interest.

Your opinions are of no importance to this government (or, or in my opinion, to any current Thai government or

political party).

So for voting for any of them .... okay I respect your vote.

But I will not respect your intelligence for allowing yourself to be fooled again and again by the crooks you elect and repeatedly re-elect with your meaningless vote,

[northernjohn]

The anti government people are respecting your right to vote. All they are asking is that you respect Thailand and make an informed vote. Not one based on payments of money or promises that can not be fulfilled. Make a vote for a government that has a sustainable budget. Do not sell your grandchildren's tax money away to a proven mishandling of finical affairs government. Know what the issues are. Vote for a transparent government. One that can sell rice and tell you how much they sell it for.

I mean really folks they can make much todo about what they pay for it but have to keep it a secret what they sell it for.

Is that asking to much.

Particularly not one for a convicted criminal on the run in Dubai. This is a convicted criminal who was tried and convicted by his own party.

[Nowhereman60]

The voice of the people is now come out. Respect their rights to live and work without blocking their roads and building.

You mean the voice of the people is now coming out. But the voice of the people was coming out in 2010. They also wanted their rights to live and work without some weird people blocking their roads and buildings. Moreover they did not want their city and their buildings burned down.

Were you playing the same tune in 2010? I bet you not.

I sure was, but I don't live in the past, what was wrong then is still wrong now.

[northernjohn]

The voice of the people is now come out. Respect their rights to live and work without blocking their roads and building.

The opposite is also valid - 'respect my right to protest'.

Sure but they should not block government buildings and roads.

Why not the red shirts were allowed to and even invade hospitals. It got them elected. Of course the anti government protestors are not building barricades to hide behind. They are out there for all to see. They are just trying to get a government that works for the people.

[Nowhereman60]

The voice of the people is now come out. Respect their rights to live and work without blocking their roads and building.

The opposite is also valid - 'respect my right to protest'.

Sure but they should not block government buildings and roads.

Why not the red shirts were allowed to and even invade hospitals. It got them elected. Of course the anti government protestors are not building barricades to hide behind. They are out there for all to see. They are just trying to get a government that works for the people.

They are not building barricades to hid behind? They sure the hell are. Where the hell are you?

[moonao]

The voice of the people is now come out. Respect their rights to live and work without blocking their roads and building.

The opposite is also valid - 'respect my right to protest'.

The opposite would actually be "respect my right to take away your right to vote".

Edited January 18, 2014 by moonao

[taff33]

The voice of the people is now come out. Respect their rights to live and work without blocking their roads and building.

The opposite is also valid - 'respect my right to protest'.

Sure but they should not block government buildings and roads.

Why not the red shirts were allowed to and even invade hospitals. It got them elected. Of course the anti government protestors are not building barricades to hide behind. They are out there for all to see. They are just trying to get a government that works for the people.

Suthep doesn't want a goverment he wants 'his pick of the people'to run the country.Let's not forget that when the nurse was shot while in the temple it was on Sutheps WATCH,he must carry the can along with Mr A.

[Prbkk]

Quite good coverage of this movement in Bangkok Post and other outlets but virtually NOTHING in The Nation. Why is that?

[northernjohn]

The opposite is also valid - 'respect my right to protest'.

Sure but they should not block government buildings and roads.

Why not the red shirts were allowed to and even invade hospitals. It got them elected. Of course the anti government protestors are not building barricades to hide behind. They are out there for all to see. They are just trying to get a government that works for the people.

They are not building barricades to hid behind? They sure the hell are. Where the hell are you?

Yes they are building barricades but not to hide behind and shoot rockets at civilian transportation depot's. They are building them to block roads go for your self and see. You can walk rite up to them and talk with the people there they are not hiding.. No fear of getting shot facing them.

How ever you do run the risk of a grenade being thrown at you from behind you. You would be what people in that line of work call collateral damage.

[JAG]

The voice of the people is now come out. Respect their rights to live and work without blocking their roads and building.

The opposite is also valid - 'respect my right to protest'.

Indeed so. But does the right to protest include the right to prevent lawfull elections, forcibly disenfranchise those whom you disagree with, and hound into exile politicians with whom you do not agree?

Only asking, rather expecting replies along the line of : in 2010 The Reds....etc.

[JAG]

Oh, should have read the whole thread before posting! Still. I was proved right wasn't I?

[whybother]

'Respect my vote' - Red Shirts speak out

[JAG]

The anti government people are respecting your right to vote. All they are asking is that you respect Thailand and make an informed vote. Not one based on payments of money or promises that can not be fulfilled. Make a vote for a government that has a sustainable budget. Do not sell your grandchildren's tax money away to a proven mishandling of finical affairs government. Know what the issues are. Vote for a transparent government. One that can sell rice and tell you how much they sell it for.

I mean really folks they can make much todo about what they pay for it but have to keep it a secret what they sell it for.

Is that asking to much.

Particularly not one for a convicted criminal on the run in Dubai. This is a convicted criminal who was tried and convicted by his own party.

But if you don't make what they regard { rightly or wrongly} as an informed vote, then they will disregard it.

[uty6543]

If the government respected the constitution and the constitutional courts and respected its other peoples money they are lining their own pockets with they could have stayed in power until the end of their term and then everyone could have had their vote. With respect.

[JAG]

'Respect my vote' - Red Shirts speak out

Not necessarily so, but if it were so do they not have the vote, and should it not be respected? Or are you of the Seig Heil persuasion?

[scorecard]

And not forgetting "Respect my Tax"

Sure, and both sides of the argument can legitimately make this point.

[northernjohn]

The anti government people are respecting your right to vote. All they are asking is that you respect Thailand and make an informed vote. Not one based on payments of money or promises that can not be fulfilled. Make a vote for a government that has a sustainable budget. Do not sell your grandchildren's tax money away to a proven mishandling of finical affairs government. Know what the issues are. Vote for a transparent government. One that can sell rice and tell you how much they sell it for.

I mean really folks they can make much todo about what they pay for it but have to keep it a secret what they sell it for.

Is that asking to much.

Particularly not one for a convicted criminal on the run in Dubai. This is a convicted criminal who was tried and convicted by his own party.

But if you don't make what they regard { rightly or wrongly} as an informed vote, then they will disregard it.

There in lies the problem they will honor it even though it was bought. This is one of the things that should be stopped and the Suthep led protestors are trying to stop.

I am just guessing but the votes from certain areas would be way down if there was no money paid for them. Some people don't even respect there own rite to vote. Yet they want others to respect it. Maybe they are rite and people should respect their rite to vote. Just don't respect the people who don't respect their own rite to vote.

I opt for respecting their rite to vote. I just disagree on the matter of it being a bought vote. I would like to see it an informed vote. How ever thanks to this government and all the past ones many of the people have not been given an education so they can understand the issues.

[icommunity]

Anti democracy protesters go home. You were misled, misguided by people whose objectives include seizing power to install their dictatorship regime. Exercise your voting right before it is too late. You have seen the government have been tolerance, exercising restraint, patience in the midst of baseless and unsubstantiated accusations and daily threats from PDRC leaders. The safety and the livelihoods of the people are their main concerned not their power that was gained through democratic means.

I am sure the government will be compassionate and appeal for leniency .

Send from my Mobile

[bkksteviejai]

The voice of the people is now come out. Respect their rights to live and work without blocking their roads and building.

The opposite is also valid - 'respect my right to protest'.

It's "respect my right to interfere with the daily lives of people who may or may not agree with me". Don't care if your talking about red or yellow, same same, selfish....."listen to me, listen to me". Never "lets listen to each other".

Sent from my GT-S7562 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[chadintheusa]

The anti-government motto "do as I say not as I do"

The government motto, "do as Thaksin says" or is that the motto of the current Phamily Member (PM)?