Deputy PM: 2 Feb election will go ahead despite obstruction of advance poll in some areas

[Gweiloman]

The only way forward for the yellows is to shut off the airport like the reds did.

Cripple the country and they will gain share of power.

And il start getting more baht to the pound.

Sigh......... it was the yellows who caused the closure of the airport. Now get back on your bar stool

[bkk75]

So the stupidity continues. One family, trying to hang on to power and the money tree, will destroy Thailand, if we let them. It's time for the Shin clan to go.

If the situation wasn't so serious, it would be comical.

How many people will have to die, before Thaksin's familly finally gets their nose out of Thai politics. I am afraid, there may be a lot of blood on their hands, by the time, this is over (there already is) and for what??? All for greed.

I agree but in the end this country deserves whatever govt they vote for regardless if the votes are purchased or not. It will take 200 plus years before future generations realize rabid corruption is no good for Thais except the few who prosper from it.

[MaiChai]

Come on spineless military. This government tries to stitch you up for the 2010 clampdown and now you are going to let them run the country again? Unless something is done Thailand is heading for a red dictatorship run by gangs with guns. Expect to see more people disappear without any investigation.

Yes, and those red shirts with guns obviously got their training somewhere? Who gets training with guns for their jobs?

[Crushdepth]

So the stupidity continues. One family, trying to hang on to power and the money tree, will destroy Thailand, if we let them. It's time for the Shin clan to go.

If the situation wasn't so serious, it would be comical.

How many people will have to die, before Thaksin's familly finally gets their nose out of Thai politics. I am afraid, there may be a lot of blood on their hands, by the time, this is over (there already is) and for what??? All for greed.

You're right, get Thaksin's family out of politics so other snouts can get to the trough. None of these people (especially Suthep) give a rat's ass about the country nor it's people. Greed, & power at any cost is the creed for ALL the politicians, not just Thaksin

While I don't disagree, I think if Suthep "wins" and then proceeds to stick his nose in the trough he'll be lynched in short order. People want real reform not another tyrant.

Having said that, I can't see how his "people's council" could possibly work. To me the best outcome we can hope for is the departure of Shincorporated from politics (has to happen or welcome to New Burma) and then a resumption of the 'normal' parliamentary process, without the undermining influence of a corrupt billionaire. PTP is not a problem in itself, it is the *owner* of PTP that is the problem. "Real" democratic parties chuck their leaders long before they cause this level of division in society, but you can't sack the leader when the entire party is on his billion dollar payroll.

[Robby nz]

Suriya4, on 26 Jan 2014 - 15:54, said:

JesseFrank, on 26 Jan 2014 - 14:52, said:

millwall_fan, on 26 Jan 2014 - 13:37, said:

It must go ahead.Next weekend there will be many more polling stations and many more voters. Lets hope that the silent democratic majority will prevail.

The silent democratic majority has just opened their mouth

RT@Lerlaforever: Bluesky: A PDRC was shot death near Wat Sri Iam Temple by Red Shirts

RT@veen_NT: One dead from a clash near Wat Sri Aium and at least one injured as red shirt Samut Prakarn attacked NSPRT protesters. #bluesky

RT@Lerlaforever: CORRECTION according to Veena T, he was NSPRT protester, not PDRC

RT@veen_NT: Dr Rawee Maschamadolon told #BlueSky that PDRC was leaving the temple when the red group arrived and then they were attacked.

RT@veen_NT: Dr Rawee: Some protesters are still inside the temple, dare not come out. #bluesky

Photo proof please,that the gunman wore a RED shirt.

According to more than one video the gunman and the others carrying red flags wore black.

That remind you of anything ?

[kikoman]

Yesterday the PM was offering to cancel the election and today one of the deputy PM's with its on again. This country being called a democracy is a crock. Dance little Yingluck dance... It is run by a peoples court convicted criminal in Dubai...and this is democracy? Pull the other tit..another election...and the circle starts again...round and round with stupidity...Thankfully it has the Army and a court system...timid court system that also needs reformed...

The PM offered a "compromise" to cancel the election, if the demostration was called off and that they go home and promise not to disrupt the new election. Also that the Democrats must agree not to boycott the new election.

The demostrators or the Democrarts did not accept the compromise offered and proceeded to disrupt the early voting!

Offer withdrawn, election to proceed as planned! Simple enough!!

Cheers

[ggold]

The government are playing a masterful game here. The opposition are firmly against the election and the current early election votes (whatever they are), so they are busy staying away and trying to block the voting. How many of the people who did turn up and vote so far are voting for the current government? Vast majority I expect.

Meanwhile the government call for a state of emergency giving them powers to arrest individuals on site and push to carry on with the election. This antagonizes the opposition who are now even more determined to stop the voting, and hey presto the supporters of the current government get into the booths and vote them back in whilst the opposition try to stop the voting from outside.

The government then have the moral high ground as they have won the election in a democratic way.

The opposition need to to rethink very quickly, who is the alternative party to vote for? They should be spending a lot of time showing that party, publicizing the policies and providing a viable alternative to the current (albeit dissolved) government.

I can see this getting very messy.

The government then have the moral high ground as they have won the election in a democratic way.

If PTP got 13 million votes in the last election which was about 48% of the voting electorate, Just how would a similar number of votes constitute a 90% vote turnout?

If you really think PTP are playing a masterful game! well your entitled your opinion even if it isn't true!

[kikoman]

veena T. ‏@veen_NT 2m

EC wrap up: 89 out of 375 constituencies nationwide failed to hold advance voting. 33 of which are in BKK & 56 in the South. via

That was the expected outcome, because the democrats were boycotting the election and in the 2011 race, Won 23 0f 33 seats in Bangkok and In the South won 50 of 50 seats, those are the stonghold of that party,

PTP in the Isaan won103 seats out of 108, in the North won 49 seats out of 62 seats and in the Central won 41 seats out of 66 seats!

While Suthep was calling on his followers to boycott the election, the turnout of advance voting documents the majority of the voters do not favor the election boycott!

375 polling places, 89 in Bangkok and the South were closed, 286 polling places voted !, The vast Majority of voters favor following the consitution and backed up the Thai Democracy!

Cheers

[tonneke breda]

Pm offered to discuss delay, look how suthep behaves! Its pathetic. Yingluks problem is that she is full of empty threats! Military must protect the voting booths!

Military should protect the country and stage another coup...

[Trouble]

So the stupidity continues. One family, trying to hang on to power and the money tree, will destroy Thailand, if we let them. It's time for the Shin clan to go.

If the situation wasn't so serious, it would be comical.

How many people will have to die, before Thaksin's familly finally gets their nose out of Thai politics. I am afraid, there may be a lot of blood on their hands, by the time, this is over (there already is) and for what??? All for greed.

First of all, it is not about one family trying to hang on to power and the money tree. It is about a whole political party trying to hang on to power. There is no Shin mafia running this whether you and others like it or not. There are people feeding of the trough at all levels and no one wants the status quo changed for that reason. Everyone that keeps blaming Yingluck as a proxy for Thaksin is, at this point, barking up the wrong tree. This is no longer survival of Thaksin or the Shinawatras' as they have their wealth and position, like it or not, in government or out. The opposition has tried to make the Shinawatras' a focal point for hatred and everything that is wrong with Thailand, but election after election has shown that most of the people think differently. You are most likely right about greed being a factor but it is not about greed of that family all by itself. Corruption and greed exist from bottom to top in government and commercial sectors and in society in general. That is Thai society. Everyone offers money to everyone for favors. It is a way of life in Thailand.

This is a feud between factions vying for control, one side being little better than the other in the corruption factor. Thaksin has become a rallying point for both the reds and the yellows. While over the years he may have been in touch with PTP members and trying to give his two cents and trying to manipulate things, events at this point have overshadowed his ability to control anything. If Thaksin promised never to come back to Thailand and Yingluck resigned, some other PTP member would rise to the top to become prime minister in an election. Then what would the other side be screaming about? I can assure you the Suthep's of Thailand would make a villain out of the next prime minister because they would still be out of power. Let's move beyond Thaksin and the Shinawatras' being the focal point for this. The current event is about a struggle for power between to political parties, one of which seems to have free reign and the other who wants a bigger piece of the action. It is about rural folks vs. the city folks and who should have the most say. Problem is the Democrats need to convince more rural voters of their program for the future of Thailand, win more elections and in doing so might just bring a balance of power to Thailand.

[JRSoul]

First of all, it is not about one family trying to hang on to power and the money tree. It is about a whole political party trying to hang on to power. There is no Shin mafia running this whether you and others like it or not. There are people feeding of the trough at all levels and no one wants the status quo changed for that reason. Everyone that keeps blaming Yingluck as a proxy for Thaksin is, at this point, barking up the wrong tree. This is no longer survival of Thaksin or the Shinawatras' as they have their wealth and position, like it or not, in government or out. The opposition has tried to make the Shinawatras' a focal point for hatred and everything that is wrong with Thailand, but election after election has shown that most of the people think differently. You are most likely right about greed being a factor but it is not about greed of that family all by itself. Corruption and greed exist from bottom to top in government and commercial sectors and in society in general. That is Thai society. Everyone offers money to everyone for favors. It is a way of life in Thailand.

This is a feud between factions vying for control, one side being little better than the other in the corruption factor. Thaksin has become a rallying point for both the reds and the yellows. While over the years he may have been in touch with PTP members and trying to give his two cents and trying to manipulate things, events at this point have overshadowed his ability to control anything. If Thaksin promised never to come back to Thailand and Yingluck resigned, some other PTP member would rise to the top to become prime minister in an election. Then what would the other side be screaming about? I can assure you the Suthep's of Thailand would make a villain out of the next prime minister because they would still be out of power. Let's move beyond Thaksin and the Shinawatras' being the focal point for this. The current event is about a struggle for power between to political parties, one of which seems to have free reign and the other who wants a bigger piece of the action. It is about rural folks vs. the city folks and who should have the most say. Problem is the Democrats need to convince more rural voters of their program for the future of Thailand, win more elections and in doing so might just bring a balance of power to Thailand.

Are you really so naive, or just reciting from the red handbook?

[oldsailor35]

Yesterday the PM was offering to cancel the election and today one of the deputy PM's with its on again. This country being called a democracy is a crock. Dance little Yingluck dance... It is run by a peoples court convicted criminal in Dubai...and this is democracy? Pull the other tit..another election...and the circle starts again...round and round with stupidity...Thankfully it has the Army and a court system...timid court system that also needs reformed...

Yep! thats the way to go, reform anything and everything that is not in line with the Democrat Party. But do not try to do it through the ballot box as we would not have a hope in hell that way.

[Gweiloman]

First of all, it is not about one family trying to hang on to power and the money tree. It is about a whole political party trying to hang on to power. There is no Shin mafia running this whether you and others like it or not. There are people feeding of the trough at all levels and no one wants the status quo changed for that reason. Everyone that keeps blaming Yingluck as a proxy for Thaksin is, at this point, barking up the wrong tree. This is no longer survival of Thaksin or the Shinawatras' as they have their wealth and position, like it or not, in government or out. The opposition has tried to make the Shinawatras' a focal point for hatred and everything that is wrong with Thailand, but election after election has shown that most of the people think differently. You are most likely right about greed being a factor but it is not about greed of that family all by itself. Corruption and greed exist from bottom to top in government and commercial sectors and in society in general. That is Thai society. Everyone offers money to everyone for favors. It is a way of life in Thailand.

This is a feud between factions vying for control, one side being little better than the other in the corruption factor. Thaksin has become a rallying point for both the reds and the yellows. While over the years he may have been in touch with PTP members and trying to give his two cents and trying to manipulate things, events at this point have overshadowed his ability to control anything. If Thaksin promised never to come back to Thailand and Yingluck resigned, some other PTP member would rise to the top to become prime minister in an election. Then what would the other side be screaming about? I can assure you the Suthep's of Thailand would make a villain out of the next prime minister because they would still be out of power. Let's move beyond Thaksin and the Shinawatras' being the focal point for this. The current event is about a struggle for power between to political parties, one of which seems to have free reign and the other who wants a bigger piece of the action. It is about rural folks vs. the city folks and who should have the most say. Problem is the Democrats need to convince more rural voters of their program for the future of Thailand, win more elections and in doing so might just bring a balance of power to Thailand.

Are you really so naive, or just reciting from the red handbook?

I have sat in on a few trials by jury so I know a bit about exercising judgement based on facts as opposed to emotions. I put it to you that the poster by the name of "trouble" is far from naive. In my opinion, he states very sensibly his views which is based on his obviously good grasp and understanding on the socio political situation happening today in Thailand.

[Gweiloman]

So the stupidity continues. One family, trying to hang on to power and the money tree, will destroy Thailand, if we let them. It's time for the Shin clan to go.

If the situation wasn't so serious, it would be comical.

How many people will have to die, before Thaksin's familly finally gets their nose out of Thai politics. I am afraid, there may be a lot of blood on their hands, by the time, this is over (there already is) and for what??? All for greed.

First of all, it is not about one family trying to hang on to power and the money tree. It is about a whole political party trying to hang on to power. There is no Shin mafia running this whether you and others like it or not. There are people feeding of the trough at all levels and no one wants the status quo changed for that reason. Everyone that keeps blaming Yingluck as a proxy for Thaksin is, at this point, barking up the wrong tree. This is no longer survival of Thaksin or the Shinawatras' as they have their wealth and position, like it or not, in government or out. The opposition has tried to make the Shinawatras' a focal point for hatred and everything that is wrong with Thailand, but election after election has shown that most of the people think differently. You are most likely right about greed being a factor but it is not about greed of that family all by itself. Corruption and greed exist from bottom to top in government and commercial sectors and in society in general. That is Thai society. Everyone offers money to everyone for favors. It is a way of life in Thailand.

This is a feud between factions vying for control, one side being little better than the other in the corruption factor. Thaksin has become a rallying point for both the reds and the yellows. While over the years he may have been in touch with PTP members and trying to give his two cents and trying to manipulate things, events at this point have overshadowed his ability to control anything. If Thaksin promised never to come back to Thailand and Yingluck resigned, some other PTP member would rise to the top to become prime minister in an election. Then what would the other side be screaming about? I can assure you the Suthep's of Thailand would make a villain out of the next prime minister because they would still be out of power. Let's move beyond Thaksin and the Shinawatras' being the focal point for this. The current event is about a struggle for power between to political parties, one of which seems to have free reign and the other who wants a bigger piece of the action. It is about rural folks vs. the city folks and who should have the most say. Problem is the Democrats need to convince more rural voters of their program for the future of Thailand, win more elections and in doing so might just bring a balance of power to Thailand.

+1

Thaksin has given voice and power to the previously ignored rural folks. Even if the Shin clan is no longer in the picture, these folks will not easily surrender this power back to Bangkok. They realise that they can be in charge of their own destinies and not be dictated to by higher educated, richer and more powerful people.

To a certain extent, Thaksin has started a revolution among them, a sort of people's uprising but using the power of their vote rather than taking to the streets.

[Thaddeus]

//deleted/double post

.

Edited January 27, 2014 by Thaddeus

[Thaddeus]

Thaksin has given voice and power to the previously ignored rural folks. Even if the Shin clan is no longer in the picture, these folks will not easily surrender this power back to Bangkok. They realise that they can be in charge of their own destinies and not be dictated to by higher educated, richer and more powerful people.

To a certain extent, Thaksin has started a revolution among them, a sort of people's uprising but using the power of their vote rather than taking to the streets.

The people having the power is a fallacy and an illusion, the only power that all people have is that they can choose who is going to control their destiny.

[drand11]

@thesatat

40% of voting occurred in bkk

90% took place throughput all of thailand

Remember,the "Others" count too!!

[drand11]

@thesatat

40% of voting occurred in bkk

90% took place throughput all of thailand

Remember,the "Others" count too!!

[Gweiloman]

Thaksin has given voice and power to the previously ignored rural folks. Even if the Shin clan is no longer in the picture, these folks will not easily surrender this power back to Bangkok. They realise that they can be in charge of their own destinies and not be dictated to by higher educated, richer and more powerful people.

To a certain extent, Thaksin has started a revolution among them, a sort of people's uprising but using the power of their vote rather than taking to the streets.

The people having the power is a fallacy and an illusion, the only power that all people have is that they can choose who is going to control their destiny.

Is this not the basis of modern day democracy? The only notable exception I can think of is Switzerland where pretty much EVERY voter's voice is heard. The alternative would be a communist state.