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

[Throatwobbler]

Oh my god..... So if Isan splits off, where will the bar girls come from ?

Will they be allowed to cross the border and go to Bangkok ? Or maybe they

will be so wealthy after Thaksin takes over there that there will be no need to

work in a bar again. Maybe Bangkok will have to allow dirt poor Russian girls

to work in the bars to make up for the labor shortage ?

This is also a bit odd, as the Chinese based Lanna culture and the Laos based

Isan culture have nothing in common, so joining them up could be a bit tricky...

Regarding foreigners fighting, they along with myself will all be out of here as

soon as civil war breaks out.

Sorry, but I wasn't aware that Lanna culture was "Chinese based". In what sense? The architecture, religion, artistic styles, food, dialect, festivals, etc are quite distinct from Han culture as far as I know. Compare it to Vietnam, for instance, for a clearly Chinese influenced culture.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

So you think all of China is Han based?

[oldthaihand99]

If the impossible happened and there was a "war" between the redshirts and the Army the result would be an overwhelming victory to the Army and the average IQ level of Thailand rising by about 50 points !

More than half the army are "red shirts". Why would they fight themselves.

Moreover the red majority don't need to go to war. Just set up their government in the North, siege Bangkok if necessary as they've done before, etc, with the full support of the international community, as they are on the democraticly elected side.

Edited January 30, 2014 by oldthaihand99

[FangFerang]

I think this is verbal lunacy. However, why do so many people keep talking about being landlocked? Every neighboring country would be happy to facilitate rice exporting. Also, why do so many people keep talking about 'the real money comes from Bangkok'? In terms of production, what is produced in Bangkok that overwhelms the rice revenues? Nothing, including tourism. This economy runs on rice, and damn little else. All the other industries combined quite probably are not just dwarfed in comparison, but minimized to a margin. Thailand is not called the 'rice bowl of Asia' casually. The rice bowl is in the north.

In fact, because of biological conditions that are ideal, Surin rice is held in very high esteem worldwide among rice aficionados. Try it, but you have to go there to try it. The taste is incredible. When I attended a wedding in Surin, a local told me 'the really good stuff almost never hits the open market -- that's what we eat, and the rest goes to select Bangkok restaurants and hotels, but the bulk that goes public is funneled to established foreign buyers who would not touch the rest of the produce with their feet'. This made sense to me because in the US, Vermont maple syrup is considered superior, but even in the posh shops, you only see 'Grade A medium amber syrup'. The 'grade A light amber' never leaves the state, or if it does it is on a gravy train. I actually only had 'grade A light amber syrup' twice in my life, and my province is nearby. When maple syrup is cooked, it breaks into lees, and the light amber is the ten percent on top of the batch. It is so good you could say it twinkles on your tongue. Surin rice is a similar sensation, and if you are a foodie here that has not had any of it you are missing out altogether.

There is NO way that Bangkok will allow that revenue to vanish. The north is the country's heartland, and in cardiac arrest presently. Everyone has betrayed them.

That is a tragedy of huge proportions.

[oldthaihand99]

Taksin land would be like North korea just without the weapons (No money) or do you think the world is suddenly going to want over priced rice that already can't be sold ?

Taksin doesn't give them an education of any worth and what it is is paid for by Bangkok and the Eastern Seaboard taxes. Taksin doesn't educate people because educated people don't vote for him.

And how long do you think Taksin will stick around without money ?

Thaksin would be able to easily return to Thailand with a full amnesty. He doesn't need money as a motive to return. He already has enough to drown in.

Thaksin would have a country to rule over. He's a businessman. Surely there's some money to be made there, eh? For example, 1. casinos; 2. gogos; 3. entice foreigners with incentives like being able to own their own property, easy retirement rules, etc. Of course TS would recieve his fair share, under the table, from all enterprises he brilliantly sets up & or finances.

Thaksin might be able to cut a deal with China to become one of their special regions like Hong Kong or Macau. The potential for business & profits is endless.

[Yunla]

If the reds want to take Yingluck to the North for security and for her early retirement, thats fine. I don't agree with the stuff about them fighting against tanks etc. or declaring a separate state. I also don't agree with the logic of breaking Thailand up into micro-states. It is an admission of failure, it is surrender, it is saying the noble sovereign nation has been defeated by a handful of cartoon-character politicians. The only reason Thailand is failing now is that we have two failed parties, and the followers of both don't have the sense to form new parties with new leaders, leaders from real-world backgrounds who are devoted to improving Thailand's hard infrastructure, prosperity and quality of life. If people formed new progressive parties and actually worked together more often it would solve all the more serious current problems. As for the US-style myriad of regional states, it would take incredible organisation and teamwork, which are lacking here. What you would get is a change from one sovereign state which could easily be put back on the right track if new parties and leaders were put forward, changing into a myriad of failed and warring micro-states run by despotic tribal leaders, petty tyrants, and envious of eachothers success.

I personally love Bangkok, its a great city, I am greatly honoured to be spending my last few years here, and people are too quick to rubbish this city and its hard-working friendly citizens imho. Also as a city it carries a lot of historical and cultural weight. I think people would be mad to break away from the capital and the collective sovereign nation, when they could just boot their corrupt leaders or form whole new progressive parties that actually care about and represent their regional problems in parliament instead. The south is a different issue entirely because of historical and religious factors.

Edited January 30, 2014 by Yunla

[Gulfsailor]

I think this is verbal lunacy. However, why do so many people keep talking about being landlocked? Every neighboring country would be happy to facilitate rice exporting. Also, why do so many people keep talking about 'the real money comes from Bangkok'? In terms of production, what is produced in Bangkok that overwhelms the rice revenues? Nothing, including tourism. This economy runs on rice, and dam_n little else. All the other industries combined quite probably are not just dwarfed in comparison, but minimized to a margin. Thailand is not called the 'rice bowl of Asia' casually. The rice bowl is in the north.

In fact, because of biological conditions that are ideal, Surin rice is held in very high esteem worldwide among rice aficionados. Try it, but you have to go there to try it. The taste is incredible. When I attended a wedding in Surin, a local told me 'the really good stuff almost never hits the open market -- that's what we eat, and the rest goes to select Bangkok restaurants and hotels, but the bulk that goes public is funneled to established foreign buyers who would not touch the rest of the produce with their feet'. This made sense to me because in the US, Vermont maple syrup is considered superior, but even in the posh shops, you only see 'Grade A medium amber syrup'. The 'grade A light amber' never leaves the state, or if it does it is on a gravy train. I actually only had 'grade A light amber syrup' twice in my life, and my province is nearby. When maple syrup is cooked, it breaks into lees, and the light amber is the ten percent on top of the batch. It is so good you could say it twinkles on your tongue. Surin rice is a similar sensation, and if you are a foodie here that has not had any of it you are missing out altogether.

There is NO way that Bangkok will allow that revenue to vanish. The north is the country's heartland, and in cardiac arrest presently. Everyone has betrayed them.

That is a tragedy of huge proportions.

GDP by sector; Agriculture (8.4%), Industry (39.2%), Services (52.4%) (2012 data) source Wikipedia.

And not every farmer grows rice. A fair amount of the agricultural GDP comes from rubber, sugarcane and corn as well.

[JRSoul]

I think this is verbal lunacy. However, why do so many people keep talking about being landlocked? Every neighboring country would be happy to facilitate rice exporting. Also, why do so many people keep talking about 'the real money comes from Bangkok'? In terms of production, what is produced in Bangkok that overwhelms the rice revenues? Nothing, including tourism. This economy runs on rice, and dam_n little else. All the other industries combined quite probably are not just dwarfed in comparison, but minimized to a margin. Thailand is not called the 'rice bowl of Asia' casually. The rice bowl is in the north.

In fact, because of biological conditions that are ideal, Surin rice is held in very high esteem worldwide among rice aficionados. Try it, but you have to go there to try it. The taste is incredible. When I attended a wedding in Surin, a local told me 'the really good stuff almost never hits the open market -- that's what we eat, and the rest goes to select Bangkok restaurants and hotels, but the bulk that goes public is funneled to established foreign buyers who would not touch the rest of the produce with their feet'. This made sense to me because in the US, Vermont maple syrup is considered superior, but even in the posh shops, you only see 'Grade A medium amber syrup'. The 'grade A light amber' never leaves the state, or if it does it is on a gravy train. I actually only had 'grade A light amber syrup' twice in my life, and my province is nearby. When maple syrup is cooked, it breaks into lees, and the light amber is the ten percent on top of the batch. It is so good you could say it twinkles on your tongue. Surin rice is a similar sensation, and if you are a foodie here that has not had any of it you are missing out altogether.

There is NO way that Bangkok will allow that revenue to vanish. The north is the country's heartland, and in cardiac arrest presently. Everyone has betrayed them.

That is a tragedy of huge proportions.

Oh dear FF, how exactly do you move rice through neighbouring countries? Have a look where the rail and road go to. If rice is such a huge earner, how is the rice scam now B700+ billion in debt?

Maple syrup? On rice?

[Mosha]

I have heard rumors and open talk about this since I first retired here 6 years ago, so this isn't anything new to me. There is no love lost between the Northern "Lanna Thai", and the BKK "Siam Thai", believe me. I also talk to people over the North and North East, and many of them also espouse the same thing. One of these is a professor of Economics at Khon Kaen Univ, who took the time to outline a map of the "New Lanna KIngdom", which is much like the old Lanna Kingdom maps. He also pointed out the closer connection to China, as well as Vietnam via Lao and Cambodian roads, thus the ocean connection. The one problem is Manufacturing, which the north & northeast are short on. However, this can be offset, slightly, by the fact that it is the north & northeast that feeds BKK, so they (BKK) would have to buy their food from the New Lanna Kingdom.

My wife also has a friend who is a real estate agent, and this woman claims that 7 out of 10 houses and properties she's sold over the past 2 years have been to BKK residents looking to get out of BKK.

I have to admit that, on the one hand, I would like to see it. On the other, financially I don't think it's possible.

Do you really think that they will buy the rice? They will do what the rest of the world does.

Edited January 30, 2014 by Mosha

[renaissanc]

Thaksin won't approve of this as he wants the whole of Thailand for himself and his Shinawatra clan. This will bring him more money. He loves money and power more than anything.

[Mosha]

I wonder what the immigration policy will be for the new North Thailand. Any comments on that one?

A lot of girls will need passports.

[pomchop]

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.

And the folks in Bangkok might find that without all the farmers filling the bread basket they would have to import their food from somewhere else.

[tezzainoz]

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.

That BTW is also the main reason, a large number of Suthep supporters are showing up, in Bangkok.

He and his cronies do have the money to buy a following !

Everybody seems to know where Taksin's money comes from but where does Suthep's money come from ?

Where does suthep's money come from? well is it really Sutheps money? Or is it funds to support a reform cause? And let's say it again; yes, suthep has baggage, and yes many folks are willing to put that to the side temporarily to hopefully see reforms, before the next elections.

Perhaps you haven't been watching Thai TV and/or you haven't been noticing the numerous photos and video clips of your ordinary Thai folks: rich / poor / Bkk born / upcountry born, educated and not educated, professional people and folks on minimum wages, etc etc are the mainstay of sutheps reform group and they contribute enormous amounts of cash, day by day - you can see it being dropped in the collection bag.

Is this too difficult to comprehend?

On the other hand perhaps the DSI are photographing the numbers on the currency notes so that they can charge the contributors who in reality by the Thai constitution have a right to protest.

My Thai wife has now return backed to Issan with her 5 friends

so you think that the end is near

you are far from the truth

She owns 2 stores in our area and has constant contact with the people in the village

nearly 50% of the young adults have some sort of Uni Education

In the 2 days she has been home they have raised 18,000 baht from collections in our area to help help the protest.

There numbers now amount to 23 at this stage to return on Saturday

No these are not Thais from the south

These are not people who love the Yellow Shirts (which were disbanded years ago)

These are people sick of being ripped of by Taksin and his Family, and want to stop Taksin getting back in

where do we live ?

The best part of Thailand .......... Udon Thani

[tezzainoz]

I believe Suthep will ignite the Civil War in thailand that split the country into two halves if nobodies stop him now.

Sent from my GT-I9082 using Tapatalk

Sorry he is to late

Taksin has already done it

[Cats4ever]

" 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

Not forgetting Switzerland.

[aaron ysl]

Lived in Chiang mai for 10 years. I have to say that all these people who think the North could break away and be hugely successful are living in a dream world. The North needs Bangkok and the south more than they need us. Also people need to look where the real rice growing areas of Thailand are, it's not the North.

Many of the more developed countries do not rely on the agricultural to be successful. Just take a look at the nearby countries in ASEAN such as Singapore and Brunei. Do you think these two countries rely on the agricultural to be hugely successful? They don't even have space to grow anything!!

Sent from my GT-I9082 using Tapatalk

[wolfmanjack]

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

It's not a 30 min drive.

Depends on the time of day. If I take the direct route from San Khamphaeng to Thaphae Road to the night bazaar it takes me any where from 30 minutes to an hour depending on traffic. To the old city would be a bit longer. Take all the cars and motorcycles off the road and I could do it in abut 15 minutes or less.

[Cnxforever]

Lived in Chiang mai for 10 years. I have to say that all these people who think the North could break away and be hugely successful are living in a dream world. The North needs Bangkok and the south more than they need us. Also people need to look where the real rice growing areas of Thailand are, it's not the North.

You are absolutely wrong. The north can do very well without Bangkok and the South - and I hope you are not measuring the rice growing by area!

As the north is very lucky with water - while most rice farms in Eesan and down south sadly have only 1or maybe 2 harvests a year the north has 3 rice harvests!

[wprime]

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.

I think it would surprise you how much money would go into the Northern and Northeast half if Thaksin was PM. They'd start off debt free leaving Thailand to shoulder the bill PTP built up, they'd receive aid money which in conjunction with loans will be invested via Thaksin's trademark populist schemes, this will encourage foreign investment. Thaksin will be able to plunder more than he's ever plundered from Thailand.

[wolfmanjack]

What are the financial requirements for retirement visas?

Probably a lot higher since Thaksin is the one that raised it from 400k to 800k.

He is also the one that said if all the westerners had to leave Thailand the thai's would take over and run their businesses so nothing would change.

There are some on here that claim Suthep is anti westerner but thaksin is the only one that I have seen implement policies and make statements proving he is anti westerner. Not to mention an old high school friend of his stating that thaksin hates farangs.

However he may see us as a new source on income and try to milk us for every satang he can since the Bangkok source of income would no longer be there.

[binjalin]

What are the financial requirements for retirement visas?

Probably a lot higher since Thaksin is the one that raised it from 400k to 800k.

He is also the one that said if all the westerners had to leave Thailand the thai's would take over and run their businesses so nothing would change.

There are some on here that claim Suthep is anti westerner but thaksin is the only one that I have seen implement policies and make statements proving he is anti westerner. Not to mention an old high school friend of his stating that thaksin hates farangs.

However he may see us as a new source on income and try to milk us for every satang he can since the Bangkok source of income would no longer be there.

it's not a claim dude :

Thai deputy PM Suthep: "I don't respect 'farangs'. We do not have to surrender to them":

[JRSoul]

Lived in Chiang mai for 10 years. I have to say that all these people who think the North could break away and be hugely successful are living in a dream world. The North needs Bangkok and the south more than they need us. Also people need to look where the real rice growing areas of Thailand are, it's not the North.

Many of the more developed countries do not rely on the agricultural to be successful. Just take a look at the nearby countries in ASEAN such as Singapore and Brunei. Do you think these two countries rely on the agricultural to be hugely successful? They don't even have space to grow anything!!

Sent from my GT-I9082 using Tapatalk

Brunei has OIL. Singapore is renown for it's lack of corruption and highly skilled workforce. Neither bear any resemblance to Thakiland.

[antimedia]

Not hard to understand why it is easy to buy their votes. IQ's of a 2 year old. The argument that many educated people now living in Bangkok come from the North is hollow as they either bought their degree or as the system works no one fails.

[Ricardo]

There's oil in Fang, just up the road from Chiang Mai !

What I'd like to know is, will we foreigners get our own province, in the new country of North Thailand ?

And will we be permitted to own small plots of land here, under the new regime, and what will the visa-requirements be ?

[geriatrickid]

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.

As a reminder, most of Thailand's hydro power flows down out of the north and north east. Lose Issan and other PTP strongholds, and Bangkok and the central industrial estates dependent upon that electricity go dark. The region is also the major source of fresh water that replenishes the watersheds upon which much of the population in the central and Bangkok regions depend. Consider the implications of impeded access to cheap food, even if it was only for a few months. As much as some people wish to discount the PTP loyalist regions, they are needed for the survival and prosperity of Thailand.

[binjalin]

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.

As a reminder, most of Thailand's hydro power flows down out of the north and north east. Lose Issan and other PTP strongholds, and Bangkok and the central industrial estates dependent upon that electricity go dark. The region is also the major source of fresh water that replenishes the watersheds upon which much of the population in the central and Bangkok regions depend. Consider the implications of impeded access to cheap food, even if it was only for a few months. As much as some people wish to discount the PTP loyalist regions, they are needed for the survival and prosperity of Thailand.

indeed and what is really needed for "for the survival and prosperity of Thailand" is an end to all this conflict and clinging onto the old ammart ways of thinking in feudalistic terms

but I guess, in some ways, all countries have had to go through these pains to get equality for all the people - these days people just won't stand for being dominated by an elite few (unless you are North Korean)

[pipkins]

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.

As a reminder, most of Thailand's hydro power flows down out of the north and north east. Lose Issan and other PTP strongholds, and Bangkok and the central industrial estates dependent upon that electricity go dark. The region is also the major source of fresh water that replenishes the watersheds upon which much of the population in the central and Bangkok regions depend. Consider the implications of impeded access to cheap food, even if it was only for a few months. As much as some people wish to discount the PTP loyalist regions, they are needed for the survival and prosperity of Thailand.

indeed and what is really needed for "for the survival and prosperity of Thailand" is an end to all this conflict and clinging onto the old ammart ways of thinking in feudalistic terms

but I guess, in some ways, all countries have had to go through these pains to get equality for all the people - these days people just won't stand for being dominated by an elite few (unless you are North Korean)

Indeed they will not. I've watched the anger growing and the Red Leadship may be split, but it is split between acting now in defence of polling stations and acting after the upcoming coup.

There really is a movement armed and ready to go, and the Elites ignore it at their peril. Look how the insurgency in the south is going under the Army Control, multiply it by a factor of 50 in land mass and you have the Red Uprising.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/thailand/10606562/Thai-red-shirts-leader-says-Its-time-to-get-rid-of-the-elite.html

The North could go on without Bangkok for sure. Bangkok would be left eating a diet of Sutheps coconuts, bannana and palm oil.... Prices might go up a bit as well if he is in charge down there.

I always found the south to be a very depressing mafia run place, they don't have the smiles of the North nor the culture, nor the fun. If they can't rise against Suthep, let them live under him, and let their children live under his children until they finally call enough.

The North is all the fruit and veg and rice and fun and music and culture. BKK has more to lose from a split with the North.

Coconut, palm oil and rubber sap sandwhich anybody!!

[icommunity]

A response to

northernjohn, on 31 Jan 2014 - 02:20, said: (Post #326)

Not trying to be rude but it is 2014 not 1966. Things have changed and a lot of the people you are referring to are dead. If there is a civil war the people in the army that support the side the army is fighting against will just take all there equipment and fight for the other side.

I highly doubt there will be many foreigners getting involved. More like they would be leaving the country.

Why do people who can't face today insist on going back in history to find some thing that will support their ideas. Why not go back to when there was no Lanna just Cambodian or times when it was Burmese.

My Response

It is not going back to history or the pass. The people are facing a situation that is 'today' and discussing a response that will liberate them from the hands of their oppressors, No body want a civil war but if it has to happen, it will.

Yes, they will not be many Falang who will fight alongside the 'Northerner'. They don't have to take up arms in order to fight. They are various ways they can help to fight and will. They are Falang who contributed much to the people of Thailand. These are the people who will be very sad. Some have to go home and some with their spouses and children.

Yes, they will be soldiers who will turn around and fight for the other side. It does not matter which side because within the military there is disunity and where do you think they recruit their soldiers. Certainly not from the circle of people like AV who used fake document to cheat his compulsory military obligation.

There is no going back to history. However, if the use of Lanna can be a unifying force then it will be used. If not, some other unifying factors that people are discussing now.

Again, as I have said before, the best way is for both sides to talk. However, forget about the party that has no confidence in themselves to gain legitimate power through the system of democracy. No feeding to their victim mentality. Let other parties surface to fill their place.

[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.

As a reminder, most of Thailand's hydro power flows down out of the north and north east. Lose Issan and other PTP strongholds, and Bangkok and the central industrial estates dependent upon that electricity go dark. The region is also the major source of fresh water that replenishes the watersheds upon which much of the population in the central and Bangkok regions depend. Consider the implications of impeded access to cheap food, even if it was only for a few months. As much as some people wish to discount the PTP loyalist regions, they are needed for the survival and prosperity of Thailand.

Oh dear me. Hydro-power is less than 7 % of Thailand's generating capacity. But if they can't turn off the lights, they could stop their water. Like they did in the last flood.

Do you think asia has a shortage of farmers? That is the whole problem, Thailand's rice is costing far more than imports would, and the storehouses are overflowing with rice they can't sell.

[tonyja]

Imagine all the People Living in the peace .. You may be the Dreamer , but your not the only one ... JL

Sent from up to me from where it was sent

[geriatrickid]

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.

As a reminder, most of Thailand's hydro power flows down out of the north and north east. Lose Issan and other PTP strongholds, and Bangkok and the central industrial estates dependent upon that electricity go dark. The region is also the major source of fresh water that replenishes the watersheds upon which much of the population in the central and Bangkok regions depend. Consider the implications of impeded access to cheap food, even if it was only for a few months. As much as some people wish to discount the PTP loyalist regions, they are needed for the survival and prosperity of Thailand.

Oh dear me. Hydro-power is less than 7 % of Thailand's generating capacity. But if they can't turn off the lights, they could stop their water. Like they did in the last flood.

Do you think asia has a shortage of farmers? That is the whole problem, Thailand's rice is costing far more than imports would, and the storehouses are overflowing with rice they can't sell.

Where were you last May?

On 22 May a massive power blackout hit more than 8 million people in Thailand's 14 southern provinces, including popular tourist areas such as Koh Samui and Phuket, in one of the country's biggest blackouts. The darkness also affected Thailand's three restive southern provinces, battling a smouldering Muslim insurgency, after a transmission failure on a high-voltage cable from Ratchaburi to Bang Saphan district in Prachuap Khiri Khan, the main power transmission line from the Central region to southern Prachuap Khiri Khan province, cut off supply from the central region. Key installations such as airports and hospitals switched to emergency back-up electricity supplies. The Thai PBS news team reported that lightning was involved.

Every year we get panic when a power plant shuts down and Egat has to scramble to replace it.

South Thailand now requires 2,500 megawatts of electricity supply per day while local power plants can only generate 2,000 megawatts. The other 500 megawatts are supplied from central Thailand via such power transmission lines as the high-voltage cable from Ratchaburi to Bang Saphan.

Yes, fossil fuels account for most of the energy generation, but the hydro electric power travels on the same lines that bring down the coal generated electricity from Mae Hot. You know where most of the stinky coal plants are located don't you? Smack dab in some of the poorest parts of Thailand, which by an interesting coincidence support the PTP. So please, don't be so dismissive. All it takes is one cable to get severed.

As for your dismissal of one of the largest sectors of the economy, I suggest you consider who purchases all those fertilizers made in the south. Who's buying the farm equipment imported or manufactured in the south? Those farmers aren't just planting rice.

Your arrogance on the flood speaks volumes. A large amount of the water was held up by intentionally flooding the region you ridicule. Next time, they will just let the water flow, and instead of people getting wet feet in Bangkok, they can deal with large parts of the BMA getting washed away.