Red wave set to swamp Bangkok

[catmac]

First,...you must not be familiar with the North, and their supreme patience thus far. Second, you must not be familiar with how people who have been "bullied" reach a snapping point.

The PDRC goebbelesque propaganda has gone too far,...in a Country without sexist, racist, elitist, it would have never begun.

Like in the good old days of the 1930's Europe - You threathen by violence - hooligans from North will march towards an otherwice peaceful protest - peaceful and peacefully blocking (for the most parts) protest... I any normal democracy protests are legal and even part of the democracy...

You obviously haven't seen the news footage being watched by the rest of the World at this moment. Protest is legal, yes, physicly preventing electors from voting by force is not.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-26004195

As for peaceful.......

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25998717

How about burning down buildings to bring back a wanted murderer and dictator - is that legal?? Oh sorry we shouldnt discuss such things should we?

Discuss it all you want, we are not the ones who refuse to see the truth. You, however, clearly are living in a fantasyland of your own making. Do enlighten us as to Thaksin being a "wanted murderer", reference to charges, court appearances, etc. would be appreciated.

As to you being Thai? Well, I reserve judgement, but I think we can have a pretty good guess, eh?

[ginjag]

Initially I believed the protest movement to be genuine and included some legitimate concerns. I changed my mind: it was conceived with evil intent , dominated by self-interest, manipulated good people into actions and consequences they did not intend, supports the few at the expense of the many, expresses contempt for the rights of others.I hope that the PTP govt survives with Yingluck at the helm: it's not been great but beats the hell out of the alternative. The amnesty bill, as originally conceived and discussed prior to the last election, looks awfully good and fair to me....

You must love corruption, you hate some you think are corrupt-- but the biggest corrupt lot for donkey's years you love. you amaze me.

You were therefore swayed for starters then changed your mind. ??? why did the PTP reverse their ways, and that made Suthep your scapegoat. ??

Later the legit protests turned out to be wrong, because you started to hate Suthep.

[Spalpeen]

Todays vote is for democracy or dictatorship

.

That's certainly true. Fortunately, about 40 million voters will be choosing democracy.

[ramrod711]

I see the shooting has started in Bangkok, looks as though some UDD can't wait for the call. I also noticed that my neighbour, is gone from the village today. The one who listens to Red propaganda all day and was brandishing his scoped rifle in his back yard. Hope nobody is killed, remember Yingluck doesn't want power, only peace. She is a regular Ghandi, sort of like her brother who is just like Mandella and Aung San Suu Kyi (according to him, anyway).

[tezzainoz]

Initially I believed the protest movement to be genuine and included some legitimate concerns. I changed my mind: it was conceived with evil intent , dominated by self-interest, manipulated good people into actions and consequences they did not intend, supports the few at the expense of the many, expresses contempt for the rights of others.I hope that the PTP govt survives with Yingluck at the helm: it's not been great but beats the hell out of the alternative. The amnesty bill, as originally conceived and discussed prior to the last election, looks awfully good and fair to me....

Yo are allowed to your own opinion

but are the streghts of your opinion enough for you to put your life at risk on the streets of Bkk

well my thai wife and her fiends are doing just that because they feel taksin is evil and will destroy Thailand

I am sure you can find something in you home country to go and protest against

[tezzainoz]

I just hope, that the bloodshed will stop and that things will be peacefully resolved soon.

Last night, a popular singer, on one of the Demonstrator stages started talking and said "Just because we are on different sides, doesn't mean that we cannot sit down together, as friends".

He hit the nail right on the head. In my town, there are many people who follow whatever Thaksin says and a few of us, who are on the demonstrators side, but we all sit together, eat, drink, have fun. There are no threats, no mean words, just good food and drinks. Our neighbor supports the other side and we both keep our TV's low, out of respect for each other, not trying to brainwash each other with our rhetoric. (We have businesses right next to each other)

We also have members in the same Motorcycle club, on both sides, but choose to stay away from political rhetoric, when we are together. So much more fun to eat and get drunk than to fight and scream.

In the end, we are all just pawns in a global chess game

And yet you are supporting the side that will take their votes away, and expect them to stand for it I'm afraid that a reality check may be coming your way soon.

Edited February 2, 2014 by tezzainoz

[Dogmatix]

From Conversations with Thaksin by Tom Plate

Tom: “He’s going back even if it kills him … and it just might.”

"My return must be in a gracious way. And so I have to wait for the right moment. It may be at the end of this year

[2011] … in December.”

Well he missed his daughter's wedding in December 2011. The Amnesty Bill didn't work out as planned, even though he was advised only 10,000 protestors would turn out for a few days. Now he is desperate. He needs to keep his family in power, so they can pass the Amnesty Bill or similar law.

The protestors are also desperate to keep him away but he has the advantage. He will never blink in a showdown because he is prepared for every thing and everyone to be destroyed, if he can't get what he wants.

[benny1616]

Many seem to be shouting war and trying to ignite one. All caused by one single person for greed and desire of greatness. 64 years old and gathered billions. Still it's not enough. How does he think he can return to Thailand and live? Become president of the north? It will not happen.

i recommend you a good psychologist to let check your brain. as a so called expat what would you say when a small minority of terrorists try to push out of power a goverment elected by a huge mayority in your country? .this democratic party with suthep, abhisit and so on are terrorists. and the party of them is a very anti democratic party. they not going to election because hey know they will loos again. this terrorists are born loosers and therefore trying to block elections and so on. something must be wrong with your head if you can´t see this clearly.

[Dogmatix]

I see the shooting has started in Bangkok, looks as though some UDD can't wait for the call. I also noticed that my neighbour, is gone from the village today. The one who listens to Red propaganda all day and was brandishing his scoped rifle in his back yard. Hope nobody is killed, remember Yingluck doesn't want power, only peace. She is a regular Ghandi, sort of like her brother who is just like Mandella and Aung San Suu Kyi (according to him, anyway).

Thaksin has paid Robert Amsterdam to recommend him for the Nobel Peace Prize.

[CIHUAHUA]

There is no hope but hope itself - Should I put that in quotes ?

[Roychua]

The military lead coup "government" removed the payment to hospitals for the poorest peoples in Thailand (they did that in 2007) - this government (led by Thaksin) told the poorest peoples in Thailand to pay 30 THB, that they did in September 2012 after 5 years of free hospitals for the poor...

Actually Thaksin led TRT started the 30baht medical treatment for the poor when they first come into power, before that the poor had to pay the full fare. The later govt just took away the 30baht registration fee.

The 30baht was there to prevent abuse to the system from those who are not really sick.

Other than this, I agree with the rest you wrote.

[belg]

where is A FLOOD when you need one ... that might have helped clear up the garbage, where after the cleanup could begin...

[JoeLing]

Posted Today, 06:41

Red wave set to swamp Bangkok

Lindsay Murdoch

Off course it's swamped in red.

It's f***ing CHINESE NEW YEAR !!!

[love1012]

where is A FLOOD when you need one ... that might have helped clear up the garbage, where after the cleanup could begin...

It WAS coming but Yingluck and her PT clowns mismanaged it!!!!!!!

[farmerjo]

Dont know why Thaksins name keeps getting mentioned.

Time for everyone to move on and not dwell on the passed.

[seajae]

once again all we see is the us and them posts, nothing about the general thais. I am against the reds simply because they were set up by thaksin to do his dirty work just like the ptp, what is best for the general populace has nothing top do with them at all. The same goes for the yellows, they are exactly the same. You only have to look at what has happened since yl became pm, the rorts have been outstanding, the amount of money that has been used in corruption is way overboard as is some of the policies and what they have done. Issuing a passport to thaksin while he is a wanted criminal was simply bullsh*t, so was trying to get all his crimes and all the ptp corruption whitewashed while allowing him to tell the govt what to do. This country needs a political force that will stop this crap for the betterment of all thais, the reds need to be removed as do the yellows but the way the red leaders are calling for blood is too much and everyone has to see this. Suthep started something that was needed but he is not the right person to lead anyone, trouble is who do we get to do it. We cannot let the shina's get back in control nor the reds/ptp, dems are useless as are the other groups around at present because all they care about is financial betterment for themselves.

The reds want a communist country where they have all the say and the yellows want very similar, the vote will achieve nothing now and what will happen really is up in the air. I just hope that after all this is over that Thailand can become a better place with all the current idiots that are supposed to be politicians gone/jailed for their crimes. No reds, no yellows, no thaksin(shina's) and no suthep is the only way forward.

[love1012]

Interesting

Now can you please tell me which group pays all the high taxes that sees the north have a reasonable life style

we live in Udon
we have electricity
we have water
we have roads to drive on
we have radio and TV
Udon is not the poor place that has nothing

but all the good things we have must be paid for by someone

Please show me links to where Tasking spent his money on the North
Not the taxes paid to the government by the people you hate

I think you posted under the wrong topic, I love Thailand and the Thai people, my hope for them is that get out from under the thumb of the Elites from both sides!

Yes exactly!!!...................and for that reason we dont need amnestys to allow the ones we managed to get rid of BACK IN!!!!!!!!!!

[JRSoul]

Dont know why Thaksins name keeps getting mentioned.

Time for everyone to move on and not dwell on the passed.

Thaksin's dead?

[Zumteufel]

No you only want those agreeing with you whether they are Thai or falang

You are supporting a group which is trying to deny the fundamental right of voting! It does not get any more undemocratic than that! The Yellows have had multiple opportunities to make their so called "reforms" recently, in 2006-2008 especially.

Only some arrogant and ignorant Bangkok expats continue supporting them for some selfish reason obviously. Some are even hoping for a military coup.

Keep on voting is the only way to get rid of corrupted politicians eventually. Military coups only hand power back to the same corrupted elite in Bangkok and nothing improves. The Reds are not much better but at least it is a small step forward.

This arrogant attitude of Thai Chinese minority is very dangerous. The idea it is their birthright is to rule over Thailand. It could turn against themselves if the angry Reds really started flooding to Bangkok. All that decades long hate just waiting to be released. It could turn very ugly and very fast. When Thais lose their cool, they really lose it in very bad way. I hope it does not come to that.

In 2010 it was very close of starting a civil war. Government buildings already were burning all over the place but for some unknown reason it did not escalate beyond that. This time we might not be so lucky.

Undemocratic? Fundemental right? As long as vote buying/manipulation, lying, taking decisions behind the people's back, ignoring supreme court's decisions, omitting truths and neglect is as part of the current govts. scheme, I have a hard time seeing that this is something that should be supported by voting, and that's as far as I understand the main reason people are out there in the streets. If you gave the time to actually listen to other sources than red propaganda, you'd know that.

It's not just "arrogant and ignorant Bangkok expats" that support them, at least mentally. It's also expats from around the country who believe in justice and true democracy. I'm one of them.

Keeping on voting will not get rid of corruption. Only a mindset change will. And certainly, a corrupt govt. does send all the wrong signals. Hardly a healthy role model.

That so called Bangkok elite, that Thai Chinese minority. First off, the people out in the streets - how many elite millionaires do you think there are among them? The majority of those people are ordinary people. One might of course jump to the conclusion that just because you live in BKK you are a part of the elite, but we both know that deep down that's an illusion, right?

Furthermore, I don't have to remind you that the Shinawatra family is Thai-Chinese, do I?

If the poorer Northern parts of Thailand wants to rise, it should not happen through scraps from a billionaire (which one might suspect is basically the same as buying votes, sympathy and blind loyalty) or sending their daughters into prostitution. Education and knowledge is the key, not going for short term solutions and keep repeating the same patterns.

P.S.: I don't live in BKK.

Edited February 2, 2014 by Zumteufel

[tezzainoz]

Many seem to be shouting war and trying to ignite one. All caused by one single person for greed and desire of greatness. 64 years old and gathered billions. Still it's not enough. How does he think he can return to Thailand and live? Become president of the north? It will not happen.

You're talking about Suthep, right?

Not a day goes by with out me having a laughter fit

Duhhhh I hate to tell you this

Suthep is still in Thailand, so what brain movement made you think he was trying to get back

Edited February 2, 2014 by tezzainoz

[tezzainoz]

The military lead coup "government" removed the payment to hospitals for the poorest peoples in Thailand (they did that in 2007) - this government (led by Thaksin) told the poorest peoples in Thailand to pay 30 THB, that they did in September 2012 after 5 years of free hospitals for the poor...

Actually Thaksin led TRT started the 30baht medical treatment for the poor when they first come into power, before that the poor had to pay the full fare. The later govt just took away the 30baht registration fee.

The 30baht was there to prevent abuse to the system from those who are not really sick.

Other than this, I agree with the rest you wrote.

Not correct

the 30 baht was removed because accountant work to oversee this was costing more thn the 30 baht the received

As my thai wifes sister works in a major Udon hospital, she says when the 30 baht was dropped there was no real increase in patienrs

[Globeman]

Many seem to be shouting war and trying to ignite one. All caused by one single person for greed and desire of greatness. 64 years old and gathered billions. Still it's not enough. How does he think he can return to Thailand and live? Become president of the north? It will not happen.

One really has to be a blind fool to write such rubbish. So you are against democracy?! Go back to your home country, Thailand does not need your kinds of expats!

Timwin, are you an expat? Surely one expat can't really tell another what sort they should be... sounds rathe rlike the problems we are having here in the first place... "You are not a REAL expat! You are a traitor against Expatland!"

And how does Eric Berg's post show he is against democracy? And why, oh why, do so many people like this post? <deleted>?

[tezzainoz]

Dont know why Thaksins name keeps getting mentioned.

Time for everyone to move on and not dwell on the passed.

Yes I totally agree with you

when Taksin moves on we can do this

my thai wife is out there protesting for the removal of Taksin

but my friends and I have already said we will join the red shirts when they attack

[Jeremy50]

The farmers need to stop rice farming, go into palm oil... Suthep knows a thing or two about that!!!

Oh great! Palm oil, the ruin of virgin forests all over the world. As Thailand has almost no forest left might as well grow it. Potatoes and wheat would be better, both far more nutritious than white rice.

[whybother]

Dont know why Thaksins name keeps getting mentioned.

Time for everyone to move on and not dwell on the passed.

What makes you think that Thaksin is not in the present? He is still heavily involved. That's why the amnesty bill, which is what started these protests, was changed to favour him.

[Dogmatix]

RT@Tulip_Oum: Thaksin's daughters have casted their votes.-@tonkumchoke pic.twitter.com/ZNgQXJuDvL

Could this geriatric red wave eventually bring one of these two smart young ladies to power, if Yingluck is burnt out or red carded, Yaowapha too abrasive and untelegenic and their brother is too busy dealing with lines of customers at Voice TV and OK Advertising? They are cutting their teeth as savvy business entrepreneurs with a hi-so shoe shop at Siam Paragon just as Yingluck got the necessary experience to manage the family businesses at big bro's mobile phone shop. Just the people to know what elderly farmers want and lead the red wave in the future. Watch this space.

Edited February 2, 2014 by Dogmatix

[catmac]

Many seem to be shouting war and trying to ignite one. All caused by one single person for greed and desire of greatness. 64 years old and gathered billions. Still it's not enough. How does he think he can return to Thailand and live? Become president of the north? It will not happen.

Why does Suthep want to be president of the North?

please link to where he said he did

all the posts I read says he will retire from politics

oops sorry to ruin your day

Will he be rejoining the family firm with his son.........property development isn't it? Specialising in encroachment of forest land, and supplying dodgy land ownership deeds!

P.s. Have you ever heard of satire?

[Thait Spot]

I seriously doubt the red shirts could muster 500,000 in the whole country - let alone Chiang Mai.

The way the rice farmers have been hung out to dry and the size of the recent red rallies would clearly indicate this.

I would be surprised if much more than 30% of the electorate turns out to vote in this shambles of a thing.

I also doubt that PTP will get much more than half the votes they had in 2011

And I doubt that Yingluck will be true to her word and resign.

[Suriya4]

Bangkokian never look down on other provinces Bangkokian only look down on people who torch their own country because country belongs to everyone,

Do not used northern or central for politic gain as this moved will divide the whole nation .

You must be joking right.

Why Bangkokian, even students, call the poor people from the country names? (Dek/Kon Tan Jung Watt, Dek?Kon Ban Nok, etc?)

Edited February 2, 2014 by Suriya4

[louthlincs]

both sides are as bad as each other - the fundamental arguments are these, thaksin used populism policies to gain support - he probably doesn't care too much about the rural poor but uses them to further his own cause. in any case, those in the provinces get the attention they've never seen from the dems.

on the other side of the coin you have the dems and bkk elite families who have had decades to throw a few scraps to the provinces but their arrogance prevented them from doing so - 'they are just here to grow rice and clean our houses'. in favour of the dems, their intention is to quash thaksin, who has become a bit of a megalomaniac over the years (not that he's any worse than Suthep of course, both in dodgy land deals and causing trouble on the streets) but lets face it, who wouldn't like to see thaksin brought down a peg or two.

The dems could offer all the support in the world right now to the provinces but the people who live there know it'd only come for a few years before the arrogance returns and Bangkok turns the screws. at least with thaksin, they have hope.

when the unspeakable occurs - things will become even more complicated with a divide in family loyalties becoming less suppressed.

if you plan to continue living in Thailand for the next 10 years or even more, I'm sure you'll bear witness to some very interesting events.