To Barack Obama: Mr President, some facts you should know about the Thai political crisis

[jackrich]

Here is Ms. Vanina Sucharitkul (the person who wrote the letter in the original post), at the 2010 red shirt rallies.

Looks like she jumps into whatever boat she thinks will benefit her career.

[Snig27]

Of course they do. Which is why they are cheering a man whose own corruption brought down a whole government when Thaksin was still a nobody

Why not you ask Thaksin to come back to Thailand to show Thai people that he do still care for them. He also want to put a stop to corruption for everybody including himself.

People will like him back.

Most of the thai people are kind hearted by nature. They willing to give people a 2nd chance for repent. 2 decades is a quite long time, they has seen the changes and contributions and feel that this old man deserves a 2nd chance and he is willing to prove it.

Likewise, I believe many people will love him again if Thaksin willing to come back and do his duty for the nation.

Is it possible to be anti thaksin, anti corruption but pro-democrwcy.

Is there any other way to rid the country of this scourge of thaksin, without resorting to suspending democracy?

If you understand how the whole TS regime works, you will know that in order to have a more flawess democracy, you need to break up the current "democracy" first and build up a stronger system which deliver a truly democracy.

If that's the case, get the country to agree via a vote. A few people (in relative terms to the size of the electorate) led by a self-obsessed madman (and he is - watch Suthep allowing women to 'touch' him in the street, it's beyond sleazy) don't have the right to make that decision on behalf of others.

[jackrich]

If that's the case, get the country to agree via a vote. A few people (in relative terms to the size of the electorate) led by a self-obsessed madman (and he is - watch Suthep allowing women to 'touch' him in the street, it's beyond sleazy) don't have the right to make that decision on behalf of others.

He hansum man. Women can tush, na.

[firestar]

Really. Where did he say that.

And this bloke was once foreign minister. Diplomatic to a t. What is this weird obsession with telling the press to shut up. In reality who cares.

It shows they don't like to be told that the empower has no clothes. I.e. Suthep is a hypocrite.

It's been reported on BP which I can't link to but here are his own words :

“Thailand just needed to suspend the election to allow greater reform for more power to the communities....”

he adds, in the meantime: “the foreign entities should just shut up their comments.”[sic]

A fine example of openness, transparency and things to come by ex-foreign minister Kasit.

Edited January 21, 2014 by firestar

[Smokemachine]

Of course they do. Which is why they are cheering a man whose own corruption brought down a whole government when Thaksin was still a nobody

Why not you ask Thaksin to come back to Thailand to show Thai people that he do still care for them. He also want to put a stop to corruption for everybody including himself.

People will like him back.

Most of the thai people are kind hearted by nature. They willing to give people a 2nd chance for repent. 2 decades is a quite long time, they has seen the changes and contributions and feel that this old man deserves a 2nd chance and he is willing to prove it.

Likewise, I believe many people will love him again if Thaksin willing to come back and do his duty for the nation.

Is it possible to be anti thaksin, anti corruption but pro-democrwcy.

Is there any other way to rid the country of this scourge of thaksin, without resorting to suspending democracy?

If you understand how the whole TS regime works, you will know that in order to have a more flawess democracy, you need to break up the current "democracy" first and build up a stronger system which deliver a truly democracy.

If that's the case, get the country to agree via a vote. A few people (in relative terms to the size of the electorate) led by a self-obsessed madman (and he is - watch Suthep allowing women to 'touch' him in the street, it's beyond sleazy) don't have the right to make that decision on behalf of others.

You can ask around the thais how many of them are ok with the reform? Very high percentage are fine with it but why some people against it. It's all because of Suthep. People suspect he has political motive, he is not really for a real reform. Some people see it as the yellow and red crap thing again.

If right now the person is not Suthep but just a netural person with clean record doing the leading, what will be the outcome now?

But what they are dealing with is TS REGIME, which normal person can fight against them?

How many have the real guts to openly fight against them?

If TS regime can be pull down so easily, any Somchai can do it already.

And about the women to 'touch' him in the street, it's just like seeing superstar idol, normal wat...

If i see my favourite idol, i will also give him a big hug too.

[casualbiker]

Here is Ms. Vanina Sucharitkul (the person who wrote the letter in the original post), at the 2010 red shirt rallies.

Looks like she jumps into whatever boat she thinks will benefit her career.

Are we sure that's her.. looks like anyone of 50 or so light skinned girl's wearing big glasses that I've seen this week .. link to site?

Also bear in mind that Both of the communist leaders of the UDD Weng and Thida were both anti Thaksin ....

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Edited January 21, 2014 by casualbiker

[casualbiker]

I guess many Thais want is a new start for Thailand, a optimistic future for their future generations. Getting clear of corruption is the biggest challenge.

They are sick of the corrupted people like this guy in the video.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=494220893947700&set=vb.372055249497599&type=2&theater

Of course they do. Which is why they are cheering a man whose own corruption brought down a whole government when Thaksin was still a nobody

But. But. But Suthep is not a politician now and swears that he does not want to return to politics!

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[LarryBird]

Here is Ms. Vanina Sucharitkul (the person who wrote the letter in the original post), at the 2010 red shirt rallies.

Looks like she jumps into whatever boat she thinks will benefit her career.

You'd still hit it though, right?

[JAG]

Impossible. But this anti foreign sentiment I don't like one bit. The sheeple lap it up.

One of the protest leaders on the 12th of Jan said the following (reported by foreign journalists, Twitter and BP) :

12:45 at Asoke protest stage, media personality Seri Wongmontha veers into anti-foreigner rant. "Do they think we're stupid?" (Cont'd)

"It's proven ppl w/ yellow skin are smarter than ppl w/ white skin... Thais who study abroad get better marks than their classmates."

Expand

"They think they're better than us." This rant was inspired by an interview w/ a farang journalist this morning. Guess it went poorly?

Expand

I wonder why attacks directly aimed at our Farang community are not reported by MCOT, ThaiPBS, The Nation...

Almost certainly went unreported because the editors thought, "He's barking mad, everyone knows that he is barking mad, so it is not worth the effort pointing out that he's barking mad!"

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[jackrich]

Here is Ms. Vanina Sucharitkul (the person who wrote the letter in the original post), at the 2010 red shirt rallies.

Looks like she jumps into whatever boat she thinks will benefit her career.

Are we sure that's her.. looks like anyone of 50 or so light skinned girl's wearing big glasses that I've seen this week .. link to site?

Also bear in mind that Both of the communist leaders of the UDD Weng and Thida were both anti Thaksin ....

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I can't post a link as it's against forum rules, but the photo was posted by herself, so one has to assume it's her.

[pipkins]

I am sure Mr Obama will be pleased to see that the Coup attempt has disasterously stuttered this pm.

Maybe if he feels right is on his side, you will be able to arrange political asylum for Suthep and his backers when their time comes.

Won't be now as Yingluk has played a blinder.... just keep it steady there girl and Obama will once again be beating a path to your door.... Prince Andrew as well was very impressed with the state of democracy in this Country

[metisdead]

Posts with messed up quotes have been removed.

[ianf]

Vanina Sucharitkul wants democracy and yet finds it difficult to accept the popular vote outcome when his side (the Democrats) lose an election.

Instead, of long hours spent writing stories like this one Vanina needs to think of 'clever ways' to win back the Northern vote. I am equally keen to be rid of both Pheu Thai (and maybe even the old Democrats) but I know that it needs to happen in the democracy-space ie: the ballot box. It happens with a war-of-ideas and not a pointless war-of-words or by paralyzing Bangkok/provinces. Today the Democrats sound like a sour loser & a spoiler. Vanina Sucharitkul you are a supposed professional. Maybe you can try to act and sound like one, instead of coming across like a party hack.

Also - being both "American and Thai" is hardly a qualification like you make it sound. I too could boast of having dual (even triple) nationality but it does'nt mean a thing unless we sound like well-bred, neutral & trusted umpires rather than a self-absorbed player.

Sadly 'clever ideas' is not something Vanina is good at.

Back room dealing, fighting it out in the courts and finally taking to the streets when all else fails is a Vanina forte and so we must ignore his self-serving rants.

You miss the point entirely Mr SparklingCascades. It is not about who wins or loses an election. It is about how Democracy is served. After all, many despots have won elections, sometimes with 100%. That doesn't make it democratic. Having a fugitive from justice, a wanted criminal on the run, a human rights abuser (etc etc etc) running the country from Dubai is hardly Democracy. How would this go down in the USA, the UK, France, Japan, Australia (etc)? I don't think it would be possible.

"Don't think it would be possible" really applies to your "running the country from Dubai " line surely. The notion so beloved by the mob that Thaksin is running Thailand from Dubai is so logically absurd it should not have to be rebuffed over and over again. If you have any experience of multi-nationals you'd understand that this concept simply doesn't run. You can't run a small branch office from a distant country let alone run the whole of Thailand.

Why is rational thought such a distant friend in these conversations? The surreal and fact twisting nature of so much of what the protesters claim as fact is quite a feature of this movement. Even much of the corruption talk when applied to Thaksin is fact free. Attack the man for what he has done - using solid facts - but don't flay around fantasy and frenzied crowd memes that have grown to be fact simply because they've been repeated enough. Many of the so called "proven facts" in this lawyer's letter are exactly that.

For an example, have a look at the actual history of the 2500 or so 'drug dealer' deaths. There's no doubt that Thaksin bears a burden for that, but so do so many of the people on that stage including the divine leader. It's far more complex than the rants would have you believe.

The Fugitive's sister, plus members of her own cabinet have admitted that Thaksin is the boss. PT's election slogan: Thaksin Thinks ..... PT acts. The evidence in support of my post is overwhelming. People who cannot see the wood for the trees here are those that swallow the Thaksin myth.

[tx22cb]

Impossible. But this anti foreign sentiment I don't like one bit. The sheeple lap it up.

One of the protest leaders on the 12th of Jan said the following (reported by foreign journalists, Twitter and BP) :

12:45 at Asoke protest stage, media personality Seri Wongmontha veers into anti-foreigner rant. "Do they think we're stupid?" (Cont'd)

"It's proven ppl w/ yellow skin are smarter than ppl w/ white skin... Thais who study abroad get better marks than their classmates."

Expand

"They think they're better than us." This rant was inspired by an interview w/ a farang journalist this morning. Guess it went poorly?

Expand

I wonder why attacks directly aimed at our Farang community are not reported by MCOT, ThaiPBS, The Nation...

Almost certainly went unreported because the editors thought, "He's barking mad, everyone knows that he is barking mad, so it is not worth the effort pointing out that he's barking mad!"

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

P'haps the media are afraid - Seri seems to possess a sharp tongue, and you know what hell hath.

[Voodoo Ray]

Regardless of the Shinawatras the rich and middle classes are just going to keep protesting until they finally get the result at the ballot box that they want. The result that protects their interests and to hell with everyone else. Trying to overthrow a government that was voted for by the majority of the country is not democratic no matter how much you disagree with it.

[Snig27]

Vanina Sucharitkul wants democracy and yet finds it difficult to accept the popular vote outcome when his side (the Democrats) lose an election.

Instead, of long hours spent writing stories like this one Vanina needs to think of 'clever ways' to win back the Northern vote. I am equally keen to be rid of both Pheu Thai (and maybe even the old Democrats) but I know that it needs to happen in the democracy-space ie: the ballot box. It happens with a war-of-ideas and not a pointless war-of-words or by paralyzing Bangkok/provinces. Today the Democrats sound like a sour loser & a spoiler. Vanina Sucharitkul you are a supposed professional. Maybe you can try to act and sound like one, instead of coming across like a party hack.

Also - being both "American and Thai" is hardly a qualification like you make it sound. I too could boast of having dual (even triple) nationality but it does'nt mean a thing unless we sound like well-bred, neutral & trusted umpires rather than a self-absorbed player.

Sadly 'clever ideas' is not something Vanina is good at.

Back room dealing, fighting it out in the courts and finally taking to the streets when all else fails is a Vanina forte and so we must ignore his self-serving rants.

You miss the point entirely Mr SparklingCascades. It is not about who wins or loses an election. It is about how Democracy is served. After all, many despots have won elections, sometimes with 100%. That doesn't make it democratic. Having a fugitive from justice, a wanted criminal on the run, a human rights abuser (etc etc etc) running the country from Dubai is hardly Democracy. How would this go down in the USA, the UK, France, Japan, Australia (etc)? I don't think it would be possible.

"Don't think it would be possible" really applies to your "running the country from Dubai " line surely. The notion so beloved by the mob that Thaksin is running Thailand from Dubai is so logically absurd it should not have to be rebuffed over and over again. If you have any experience of multi-nationals you'd understand that this concept simply doesn't run. You can't run a small branch office from a distant country let alone run the whole of Thailand.

Why is rational thought such a distant friend in these conversations? The surreal and fact twisting nature of so much of what the protesters claim as fact is quite a feature of this movement. Even much of the corruption talk when applied to Thaksin is fact free. Attack the man for what he has done - using solid facts - but don't flay around fantasy and frenzied crowd memes that have grown to be fact simply because they've been repeated enough. Many of the so called "proven facts" in this lawyer's letter are exactly that.

For an example, have a look at the actual history of the 2500 or so 'drug dealer' deaths. There's no doubt that Thaksin bears a burden for that, but so do so many of the people on that stage including the divine leader. It's far more complex than the rants would have you believe.

The Fugitive's sister, plus members of her own cabinet have admitted that Thaksin is the boss. PT's election slogan: Thaksin Thinks ..... PT acts. The evidence in support of my post is overwhelming. People who cannot see the wood for the trees here are those that swallow the Thaksin myth.

"Thaksin thinks" is hardly the the same thing as running the country. You stating that the "evidence in support of my post is overwhelming' when you can supply none is less than convincing. Nobody is 'swallowing the Thaksin myth'. You are just proving the narrowmindedness of the protest movement by assuming that somebody that questions irrational claims that have become lore is red or a "Thaksin" follower. I'm neither but I do claim to have thought about some of the stuff you regard as gospel and have tried to apply logic to the claims.

[Eagle60]

Oh dear you are one of those. Yes yes....

Why does everyone keep harking on about Suthep. He is just a face. Many of the people protesting are not there for him at all. They are there for the obvious reasons, that any child can clearly see, staring them in the face. The absolute majority of protesters are not violent. Most are tax payers and it is their money and hard work that pays for the roads you use, the airports you fly in to and the lights that allow you to walk around at night under. It is their tax payments that keep the country going. They are blowing whistles, singing songs, smiling and carrying out their fundamental right to protest. I have been around them, gone to the shops and nothing made me feel angry or scared. I actually felt a great deal of warmth and positive spirit. It is not my country and I am unbiased and open minded. I am not political and choose to remain out of other people's business. Of course valid opinion is a good thing but how much is opinion and how much is sheer ignorance and prejudice.


That does not mean everything they do is correct of course. But I hardly feel their nemesis has conducted themselves anywhere near as well. Why is it bothering everyone so much. Shops are open, the bar huggers can still drink, the airport is open.....chill out for god's sake. Let's all hope that it can be resolved through dialogue and peaceful means. But it is for The Thai people to decide and work out. And to keep hacking on about democracy. Ask any politician anywhere in the world and most would not be able to tell you what it is. It's a myth and does not exist. Certainly not in USA, UK or many countries.


In the USA power and wealth of the country is controlled and owned by a tiny minority. As too in the UK. And I believe in both places our so called lovely democratic leaders used tax payers money to pay back a load of heinous bankers and then made cut backs that hurt the people even more. So democratic of them...thank you so much you democratic wonderful leaders....enough already....Please do not keep going on about democracy. Have we all not seen what our leaders did for us during the latest banking and economic meltdown. So loyal and considerate to us the people. Come on please...let's be serious. I do not think any external country can hold the moral high ground over Thailand. By the way if Thailand is so wrong why did it pip London last year to be the most visited country and more visitors came through Bangkok. Why because it is loved for the way it is. Who says our countries are right.....from my viewpoint we are being abused and cheated continually back home and it is a joke to suggest otherwise. Ask the millions who lost their homes, lost their jobs, got no help from their leaders.... while the bankers got big bonuses and all the help they required.. Come on ...be real. Let's be fair here.


As for the letter. If a congressman had not interfered in Thailand's affairs then maybe this lawyer would not have written the letter. They are perfectly entitled to and I may add put their legal reputation on the line to speak out at what they believe to be the truth. Why does it anger foreigners so much. It seems to me there is an engrained desire for western people to control and dictate to others. Being a westerner I feel ashamed sometimes and also saddened by the sheer arrogance, ignorance and naivety of their comments and thoughts. Luckily amongst the diatribe there are still some intelligent well thought comments. Peace man.

Once you state, most are tax payers, that is the end. There is firstly no proof if that and secondly that doesn't give them any more or less moral right to be heard than any other.

Corruption sucks. Where were this lot during the bomb detector scandal?

[Eagle60]

Oh dear you are one of those. Yes yes....

Why does everyone keep harking on about Suthep. He is just a face. Many of the people protesting are not there for him at all. They are there for the obvious reasons, that any child can clearly see, staring them in the face. The absolute majority of protesters are not violent. Most are tax payers and it is their money and hard work that pays for the roads you use, the airports you fly in to and the lights that allow you to walk around at night under. It is their tax payments that keep the country going. They are blowing whistles, singing songs, smiling and carrying out their fundamental right to protest. I have been around them, gone to the shops and nothing made me feel angry or scared. I actually felt a great deal of warmth and positive spirit. It is not my country and I am unbiased and open minded. I am not political and choose to remain out of other people's business. Of course valid opinion is a good thing but how much is opinion and how much is sheer ignorance and prejudice.


That does not mean everything they do is correct of course. But I hardly feel their nemesis has conducted themselves anywhere near as well. Why is it bothering everyone so much. Shops are open, the bar huggers can still drink, the airport is open.....chill out for god's sake. Let's all hope that it can be resolved through dialogue and peaceful means. But it is for The Thai people to decide and work out. And to keep hacking on about democracy. Ask any politician anywhere in the world and most would not be able to tell you what it is. It's a myth and does not exist. Certainly not in USA, UK or many countries.


In the USA power and wealth of the country is controlled and owned by a tiny minority. As too in the UK. And I believe in both places our so called lovely democratic leaders used tax payers money to pay back a load of heinous bankers and then made cut backs that hurt the people even more. So democratic of them...thank you so much you democratic wonderful leaders....enough already....Please do not keep going on about democracy. Have we all not seen what our leaders did for us during the latest banking and economic meltdown. So loyal and considerate to us the people. Come on please...let's be serious. I do not think any external country can hold the moral high ground over Thailand. By the way if Thailand is so wrong why did it pip London last year to be the most visited country and more visitors came through Bangkok. Why because it is loved for the way it is. Who says our countries are right.....from my viewpoint we are being abused and cheated continually back home and it is a joke to suggest otherwise. Ask the millions who lost their homes, lost their jobs, got no help from their leaders.... while the bankers got big bonuses and all the help they required.. Come on ...be real. Let's be fair here.


As for the letter. If a congressman had not interfered in Thailand's affairs then maybe this lawyer would not have written the letter. They are perfectly entitled to and I may add put their legal reputation on the line to speak out at what they believe to be the truth. Why does it anger foreigners so much. It seems to me there is an engrained desire for western people to control and dictate to others. Being a westerner I feel ashamed sometimes and also saddened by the sheer arrogance, ignorance and naivety of their comments and thoughts. Luckily amongst the diatribe there are still some intelligent well thought comments. Peace man.

Once you state, most are tax payers, that is the end. There is firstly no proof if that and secondly that doesn't give them any more or less moral right to be heard than any other.

Corruption sucks. Where were this lot during the bomb detector scandal?

[Eagle60]

and your point is ? I rest my case. My last sentences are proven correct. Have great day.

Why does everyone keep harking on about Suthep. He is just a face. Many of the people protesting are not there for him at all. They are there for the obvious reasons, that any child can clearly see, staring them in the face. The absolute majority of protesters are not violent. Most are tax payers and it is their money and hard work that pays for the roads you use, the airports you fly in to and the lights that allow you to walk around at night under. It is their tax payments that keep the country going. They are blowing whistles, singing songs, smiling and carrying out their fundamental right to protest. I have been around them, gone to the shops and nothing made me feel angry or scared. I actually felt a great deal of warmth and positive spirit. It is not my country and I am unbiased and open minded. I am not political and choose to remain out of other people's business. Of course valid opinion is a good thing but how much is opinion and how much is sheer ignorance and prejudice.


That does not mean everything they do is correct of course. But I hardly feel their nemesis has conducted themselves anywhere near as well. Why is it bothering everyone so much. Shops are open, the bar huggers can still drink, the airport is open.....chill out for god's sake. Let's all hope that it can be resolved through dialogue and peaceful means. But it is for The Thai people to decide and work out. And to keep hacking on about democracy. Ask any politician anywhere in the world and most would not be able to tell you what it is. It's a myth and does not exist. Certainly not in USA, UK or many countries.


In the USA power and wealth of the country is controlled and owned by a tiny minority. As too in the UK. And I believe in both places our so called lovely democratic leaders used tax payers money to pay back a load of heinous bankers and then made cut backs that hurt the people even more. So democratic of them...thank you so much you democratic wonderful leaders....enough already....Please do not keep going on about democracy. Have we all not seen what our leaders did for us during the latest banking and economic meltdown. So loyal and considerate to us the people. Come on please...let's be serious. I do not think any external country can hold the moral high ground over Thailand. By the way if Thailand is so wrong why did it pip London last year to be the most visited country and more visitors came through Bangkok. Why because it is loved for the way it is. Who says our countries are right.....from my viewpoint we are being abused and cheated continually back home and it is a joke to suggest otherwise. Ask the millions who lost their homes, lost their jobs, got no help from their leaders.... while the bankers got big bonuses and all the help they required.. Come on ...be real. Let's be fair here.


As for the letter. If a congressman had not interfered in Thailand's affairs then maybe this lawyer would not have written the letter. They are perfectly entitled to and I may add put their legal reputation on the line to speak out at what they believe to be the truth. Why does it anger foreigners so much. It seems to me there is an engrained desire for western people to control and dictate to others. Being a westerner I feel ashamed sometimes and also saddened by the sheer arrogance, ignorance and naivety of their comments and thoughts. Luckily amongst the diatribe there are still some intelligent well thought comments. Peace man.

Once you state, most are tax payers, that is the end. There is firstly no proof if that and secondly that doesn't give them any more or less moral right to be heard than any other.

Corruption sucks. Where were this lot during the bomb detector scandal?

[Thai at Heart]

and your point is ? I rest my case. My last sentences are proven correct. Have great day.

Why does everyone keep harking on about Suthep. He is just a face. Many of the people protesting are not there for him at all. They are there for the obvious reasons, that any child can clearly see, staring them in the face. The absolute majority of protesters are not violent. Most are tax payers and it is their money and hard work that pays for the roads you use, the airports you fly in to and the lights that allow you to walk around at night under. It is their tax payments that keep the country going. They are blowing whistles, singing songs, smiling and carrying out their fundamental right to protest. I have been around them, gone to the shops and nothing made me feel angry or scared. I actually felt a great deal of warmth and positive spirit. It is not my country and I am unbiased and open minded. I am not political and choose to remain out of other people's business. Of course valid opinion is a good thing but how much is opinion and how much is sheer ignorance and prejudice.

That does not mean everything they do is correct of course. But I hardly feel their nemesis has conducted themselves anywhere near as well. Why is it bothering everyone so much. Shops are open, the bar huggers can still drink, the airport is open.....chill out for god's sake. Let's all hope that it can be resolved through dialogue and peaceful means. But it is for The Thai people to decide and work out. And to keep hacking on about democracy. Ask any politician anywhere in the world and most would not be able to tell you what it is. It's a myth and does not exist. Certainly not in USA, UK or many countries.

In the USA power and wealth of the country is controlled and owned by a tiny minority. As too in the UK. And I believe in both places our so called lovely democratic leaders used tax payers money to pay back a load of heinous bankers and then made cut backs that hurt the people even more. So democratic of them...thank you so much you democratic wonderful leaders....enough already....Please do not keep going on about democracy. Have we all not seen what our leaders did for us during the latest banking and economic meltdown. So loyal and considerate to us the people. Come on please...let's be serious. I do not think any external country can hold the moral high ground over Thailand. By the way if Thailand is so wrong why did it pip London last year to be the most visited country and more visitors came through Bangkok. Why because it is loved for the way it is. Who says our countries are right.....from my viewpoint we are being abused and cheated continually back home and it is a joke to suggest otherwise. Ask the millions who lost their homes, lost their jobs, got no help from their leaders.... while the bankers got big bonuses and all the help they required.. Come on ...be real. Let's be fair here.

As for the letter. If a congressman had not interfered in Thailand's affairs then maybe this lawyer would not have written the letter. They are perfectly entitled to and I may add put their legal reputation on the line to speak out at what they believe to be the truth. Why does it anger foreigners so much. It seems to me there is an engrained desire for western people to control and dictate to others. Being a westerner I feel ashamed sometimes and also saddened by the sheer arrogance, ignorance and naivety of their comments and thoughts. Luckily amongst the diatribe there are still some intelligent well thought comments. Peace man.

Once you state, most are tax payers, that is the end. There is firstly no proof if that and secondly that doesn't give them any more or less moral right to be heard than any other.

Corruption sucks. Where were this lot during the bomb detector scandal?

Excuse me? Do these protesters agree that ALL corruption is bad?

[boomerangutang]

Wow OP, as a US trained lawyer as you claim then you would understand that weather you, Suthep, the Dem's or whistle blowers like it or not,

that this government was elected and those trying to overthrow the government are not respecting the vote of the people, ie the democratic process,

The election that led to Ms Yingluck becoming PM was highly tainted by vote-buying. If the election wasn't valid, then it's not a real election, and it doesn't signify much, except that millions of Thais will sell their vote for between 200 and 500 baht.

[jackrich]

Wow OP, as a US trained lawyer as you claim then you would understand that weather you, Suthep, the Dem's or whistle blowers like it or not,

that this government was elected and those trying to overthrow the government are not respecting the vote of the people, ie the democratic process,

The election that led to Ms Yingluck becoming PM was highly tainted by vote-buying. If the election wasn't valid, then it's not a real election, and it doesn't signify much, except that millions of Thais will sell their vote for between 200 and 500 baht.

In the 2009 election, Democrats were disqualified due to vote buying and in the 2011 election the Bhumjaithai party, which is the Democrats biggest ally. Is this what you mean?

[aripengu]

She cleverly forgets to mention the underlying situation of poverty and lack of education created by the people long time in power before Thaksin, which makes it possible in the first place for a self centred guy like him to become so popular. There was no real democracy before Thaksin either, the term democracy is just used in a war between clans and different interests, and judging by the low level of acceptance of other people's opinions in Thai society there wont be any soon. What Thailand needs is a deep and free dialogue about what has led to this situations without medieval law restrictions. The war oriented, patriotic and racist education of the last 50 years has done a great damage and left Thai society unable to articulate itself in a healthy manner.

Edited January 22, 2014 by aripengu

[boomerangutang]

She cleverly forgets to mention the underlying situation of poverty and lack of education created by the people long time in power before Thaksin, which makes it possible in the first place for a self centred guy like him to become so popular. There was no real democracy before Thaksin either, the term democracy is just used in a war between clans and different interests, and judging by the low level of acceptance of other people's opinions in Thai society there wont be any soon. What Thailand needs is a deep and free dialogue about what has led to this situations without medieval law restrictions. The war oriented, patriotic and racist education of the last 50 years has done a great damage and left Thai society unable to articulate itself in a healthy manner.

I can agree, but Thais are generally very stuck in their ways of thinking. To get them to change their deep-set acceptance of things like payments-for-votes or payments-for-career-advancement or .....contracts, or privileges, etc. ....would be like training catfish to play badminton.

[shiok]

Michael Turner will have a chuckle after reading that nonsense.

Poor old Vanina Sucharitkul hasn't a clue in the slightest what democacy means.

and what makes you think you do?

[Chicog]

We want democracy. And it is through this civil disobedience that we will achieve it.

What a cretin.

[Chicog]

She cleverly forgets to mention the underlying situation of poverty and lack of education created by the people long time in power before Thaksin, which makes it possible in the first place for a self centred guy like him to become so popular. There was no real democracy before Thaksin either, the term democracy is just used in a war between clans and different interests, and judging by the low level of acceptance of other people's opinions in Thai society there wont be any soon. What Thailand needs is a deep and free dialogue about what has led to this situations without medieval law restrictions. The war oriented, patriotic and racist education of the last 50 years has done a great damage and left Thai society unable to articulate itself in a healthy manner.

A nice summation.

[H1w4yR1da]

I'm curious about the answers of some of the simplistic anti-Suthep pro Thaksin TV members

What about from the anti-Suthep and anti-Taksin TV posters.

As I can't imagine any westerner of sound mind actually supporting either. They're both corrupt.

Now if you had said pro-yellow shirt movement or pro-red shirt movement, that'd be different.

[Thai at Heart]

I'm curious about the answers of some of the simplistic anti-Suthep pro Thaksin TV members

What about from the anti-Suthep and anti-Taksin TV posters.

As I can't imagine any westerner of sound mind actually supporting either. They're both corrupt.

Now if you had said pro-yellow shirt movement or pro-red shirt movement, that'd be different.

Amen to that.

[LarryBird]

Michael Turner will have a chuckle after reading that nonsense.

Poor old Vanina Sucharitkul hasn't a clue in the slightest what democacy means.

and what makes you think you do?

I love this notion that we simpletons don't understand what a democracy is!