Red shirts in Chiang Mai in favour of new capital in case of coup

[webfact]

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
Red shirts in Chiang Mai in favour of new capital in case of coup

BANGKOK: -- The red shirt movement in Chiang Mai province has prepared a retreat for caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra should the military stage a coup d'etat.

In that case, Yingluck government can be relocated to Chiang Mai, the home province of the Shinawatra clan, with the Northern city becoming the capital.

Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post quoted red shirt activist, Mahawang Kawang, as saying that their movement is large enough to challenge the military.

"We are not afraid. All the red groups will unite. We are willing to sacrifice our lives," said Kawang, president of the alumni association of Yupparaj school in Chiang Mai where Yingluck was once a student.

"It is likely the government will move to Chiang Mai. We can defeat tanks because we have the numbers," Kawang added.

Red shirt supporters have spread rumours that the military will intervene to quell the ongoing chaos in the country caused by antigovernment protests led by former Democrat MP Suthep Thaugsuban. Suthep has led 'Bangkok Shutdown' campaign since January 13, seeking national reform

The Post reported that some experts consider the government relocating as an unlikely prospect.

Red shirt organiser Supon Fumuljaroen, a former classmate of Thaksin, is now vicechairman of the UDD in Chiang Mai province. They both hail from the small town of San Kamphaeng, about 30 minutes’ drive from the city of Chiang Mai.

The Post quoted Supon, a former policeman as saying "The majority of redshirts really like the idea of a separate state. If they stage a coup, we can live without Bangkok."

Pinkaew Laungaramsri, a sociologist at Chiang Mai University, said the northsouth divide meant that Thailand was breaking up.

"If the government is kicked out then Yingluck will be invited to set up a government here in Chiang Mai," she said.


-- The Nation 2014-01-30

[JesseFrank]

Will Chiangmai be renamed into Jonestown for that occasion ?

[Nickymaster]

Sadly enough this might be the only solution.

[15Peter20]

Some red shirts are getting a bit emotional. I don't think they represent most red shirts nationwide.

[Nickymaster]

Think twice Red shirts! Yingluck might not have THB 780,000,000,000 to spend anymore on populist policies...

Edited January 30, 2014 by Nickymaster

[JRSoul]

An interesting concept, though which provinces choose to join which of the 2 halves might surprise many people.

The division of India was along religious lines. The idea of separation from the supporters of corrupt government who also happen to be nett taxation beneficiaries makes more sense, at least for the tax payers, but you can be sure Thaksin will be against it - he knows where the money comes from.

[Thailand]

Plenty of dumb assess on both sides of this farce.

And they are always the ones who have to open their mouths and stick a big foot in it!

[davejones]

Think twice Red shirts! Yingluck might not have THB 780,000,000,000 to spend anymore on populist policies...

Yes, the north would be more like Laos and Burma without Bangkok and the south. But if that's what they want, why not. Both side should happy. Other countries have split amicably. e.g. Czech & Slovakia.

[Scamper]

" It is likely the government will move to Chiang Mai. We can defeat tanks because we have the numbers," Kawang added. "

The stark reality is that many, many people within the UDD actually think like this. The broadcasts of UDD radio are filled with images like these. There is rhetoric. And then there is this. When pictures like these are being imprinted on the minds of others it is not hard to see that at some point reason itself becomes expendable.

[coma]

" The Post quoted Supon, a former policeman as saying "The majority of redshirts really like the idea of a separate state. If they stage a coup, we can live without Bangkok."

Yeah right. Then you will end up like other land locked metropolis' such as Loas, Afghanistan, South Sudan etc etc

[bubblegum]

First good idea I have heard from a red shirt

[kurtgruen]

This is too funny. If you are in Chiang Mai, you know how few red shirts have been at their command center, in the past week (probably less then 30 in total, most of the time only 3 or 4). They have not been getting paid. No money no honey. Thaksin should know that.

[Pib]

The Confederate Provinces of Thailand...capital Chiang Mai. The Confederate States of America with their capital in Richmond Virginia tried a similar approach about 150 years ago during the American Civil War--the new capital thing didn't work out.

[dtarasin]

Yeah. Keep dreaming the big dream, dude.

[tischmibkk]

Great idea, I think!

Once they're landlocked I wonder how they will get products, etc. delivered.

But they can try selling their rice 40% above market value. Any industry that produced would likely move to "South Thailand" (if there is North & South Thailand as the new states) where the minimum wage would probably be reversed to a level that reflects the actual qualification of workers.

Wonder how they will finance this new country then!

Edited January 30, 2014 by tischmibkk

[marcusd]

Alumni? I think dumbass

Sent from my RM-892_apac_laos_thailand_219 using Tapatalk

[marcusd]

" It is likely the government will move to Chiang Mai. We can defeat tanks because we have the numbers," Kawang added. "

The stark reality is that many, many people within the UDD actually think like this. The broadcasts of UDD radio are filled with images like these. There is rhetoric. And then there is this. When pictures like these are being imprinted on the minds of others it is not hard to see that at some point reason itself becomes expendable.

I think,they actually believe Mao Tse Tung is alive and the little red book thing works.

Sent from my RM-892_apac_laos_thailand_219 using Tapatalk

[ShannonT]

As strange as it sounds, it might be the best solution to Thailand's yellow / red conflict. It will never end, because if yellow has the power, red will protest and if red has the power, yellow will protest.

Make North Thailand and South Thailand. Problem solved.

[Mosha]

Will Chiangmai be renamed into Jonestown for that occasion ?

Western Laos.

[jaapfries]

Great concept; there will be 2 nations:

1. Thailand (Land of Smiles)

2. Thaksinland (Land of endless Regrets)

and with a bit of imagination, we'll hand the Southern most 3 little states back to the Pattanians, which will instantly solve that bloody problem and then everyone can be live happily ever after . . . . . . . . .

Duuuuuh ! ! ! ! ! !

[bkkjames]

Sure, hand over your Thai ID, passports, and pay up your part of the debt first...

[Pimay1]

Some red shirts are getting a bit emotional. I don't think they represent most red shirts nationwide.

Some are getting a bit emotional?? Good one.

[ShannonT]

" The Post quoted Supon, a former policeman as saying "The majority of redshirts really like the idea of a separate state. If they stage a coup, we can live without Bangkok."

Yeah right. Then you will end up like other land locked metropolis' such as Loas, Afghanistan, South Sudan etc etc

Are you sure? According to the last election results, it seems to me that Bangkok would be the almost land locked metropolis in such a scenario. Even the entire North East of Bangkok is red:

[kurtgruen]

Another case of "Too much rice - not enough Protein!"

[heybruce]

Why not? Bangkok is sinking anyway, literally and figuratively.

[SamMunich]

What a political relief that would be for the rest of Thailand, if Taksin & Co. get their own secluded part. Within no time that state would be bankrupt and Taksin would leave as soon as no more money can be squeezed out of those red shirts.

But now for real: to even say something like that in a country, that would go to war against neighbouring countries over a few square kilometers of soil is perhaps the most stupid thing they could do. If the election is about the PTP folks supporting separation, then at least 95% (if not more) would vote against the PTP.

This is an own goal per excellence...

[jaapfries]

Great idea, I think!

Once they're landlocked I wonder how they will get products, etc. delivered.

But they can try selling their rice 40% above market value. Any industry that produced would likely move to "South Thailand" (if there is North & South Thailand as the new states) where the minimum wage would probably be reversed to a level that reflects the actual qualification of workers.

Wonder how they will finance this new country then!

That's an easy one: SHIN-CASINOS INC. ! ! ! ! ! !

[JRSoul]

As strange as it sounds, it might be the best solution to Thailand's yellow / red conflict. It will never end, because if yellow has the power, red will protest and if red has the power, yellow will protest.

Make North Thailand and South Thailand. Problem solved.

The division would probably be quite short. As the North Thailand "Takki" approaches 10 to the Laos Kip, I would expect to find members of the Shinawatra family and their supporters decorating light-poles along the highway south as emissaries head down to beg forgiveness and reunion.

[Just1Voice]

" The Post quoted Supon, a former policeman as saying "The majority of redshirts really like the idea of a separate state. If they stage a coup, we can live without Bangkok."

Yeah right. Then you will end up like other land locked metropolis' such as Loas, Afghanistan, South Sudan etc etc

Don't forget Switzerland

[Flemish guy]

Thaksland and Thailand??? :-)