Coup watch: Bloody days ahead for Bangkok

[webfact]

Coup watch: Bloody days ahead for Bangkok
Thailand’s dysfunctional politics are setting the stage for more violence in 2014.
Patrick Winn

BANGKOK — When Thailand’s top general speaks of coups, his words are read like tea leaves. Just as US economists decrypt the Federal Reserve chair’s verbiage, the Thai punditry analyzes their army chief’s phrasing down to the last syllable.

Thailand, paranoid over coups even in its best years, has shifted into round-the-clock coup watch.

The nation’s dour military head honcho, Prayuth Chan-ocha, is the man who decides whether the tanks will roll. The general is now so beset by questions over potential plots that he recently snapped at the press.

“Why do you keep asking me so often?” he shot back.

But even that quip was dissected in hopes of glimpsing the general’s inner thoughts. [read more...]

Full story: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/thailand/140203/coup-watch-bloody-days-ahead-bangkok

-- globalpost 2014-02-04

[Costas2008]

"Coup watch: Bloody days ahead for Bangkok"

And for Thailand as a whole.

Both sides are hoping for a coup, so they can get out of the shambles they created.

General Prayuth Chan-ocha is not giving them the pleasure for the moment.

But we never know what the future brings.

Edited February 4, 2014 by Costas2008

[pkspeaker]

The PhuaThai is NOT hoping for a coup, the shambles they are in is this 'judicial coup' garbage in which 308 MPs are sacked by the 'anti-graft' body NACC for 'voting' to add an amendment to the constitution that would make the upper house fully elected instead of appointed. The US has 27 amendments to the constitution, but in Thailand an amendment to the charter is called 'corruption'.

judicial coup is going to bring the same redshirt backlash as a normal coup, we can only hope that these 'courts' decide to ave some integrity and dismiss these bogus cases piling up against the phuathai.

[tomross46]

From George Orwell 1984

And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed – if all records told the same tale – then the lie passed into history and became truth. "Who controls the past," ran the Party slogan, "controls the future: who controls the present controls the past." And yet the past, though of its nature alterable, never had been altered. Whatever was true now was true from everlasting to everlasting. It was quite simple. All that was needed was an unending series of victories over your own memory. "Reality control," they called it: in Newspeak, "doublethink."

[mightyatom]

The nation’s dour military head honcho, Prayuth Chan-ocha, is the man who decides whether the tanks will roll. The general is now so beset by questions over potential plots that he recently snapped at the press.

“Why do you keep asking me so often?” he shot back.

But even that quip was dissected in hopes of glimpsing the general’s inner thoughts.

Priceless.

[mightyatom]

The PhuaThai is NOT hoping for a coup, the shambles they are in is this 'judicial coup' garbage in which 308 MPs are sacked by the 'anti-graft' body NACC for 'voting' to add an amendment to the constitution that would make the upper house fully elected instead of appointed. The US has 27 amendments to the constitution, but in Thailand an amendment to the charter is called 'corruption'.

judicial coup is going to bring the same redshirt backlash as a normal coup, we can only hope that these 'courts' decide to ave some integrity and dismiss these bogus cases piling up against the phuathai.

You saying that the way that the bill was introduced and forced through in the early hours of the morning while the no voters were sent home and told to return at 9am to continue the debate only to return and find the vote was done already is constitutional?

You are saying that all these cases of corruption are fake? When courts can not bring a case without any evidence?

Wow... You may as well abolish law itself, because that is what it would take to keep any of the people you support 'clean'.

No such thing as a judicial coup if the government were clean. Unfortunately they are as dirty as it gets and are basically about to get their official punishment as set out in law. No more, no less and no coup.

[animatic]

The PhuaThai is NOT hoping for a coup, the shambles they are in is this 'judicial coup' garbage in which 308 MPs are sacked by the 'anti-graft' body NACC for 'voting' to add an amendment to the constitution that would make the upper house fully elected instead of appointed. The US has 27 amendments to the constitution, but in Thailand an amendment to the charter is called 'corruption'.

judicial coup is going to bring the same redshirt backlash as a normal coup, we can only hope that these 'courts' decide to ave some integrity and dismiss these bogus cases piling up against the phuathai.

It's not about what they voted on, but the illegal manner of the voting.

[pkspeaker]

where's the proof of that? 'that they didn't know'; they can check the parliaments agenda just like anyone else can, and again if 308 voted yes then it doesn't matter because they already had a wide margin of passing, passing it in the early hours was a tactic to keep it out of that days newspapers, and to sort of dole out the news because they knew it was controversial.

Things are either illegal or they are not. The NACC is trying to throw out 308 MPs for simply 'voting' for the amendment, there is no law that says parliament cannot convene at early hours.

Edited February 4, 2014 by pkspeaker

[jcb2001]

The PhuaThai is NOT hoping for a coup, the shambles they are in is this 'judicial coup' garbage in which 308 MPs are sacked by the 'anti-graft' body NACC for 'voting' to add an amendment to the constitution that would make the upper house fully elected instead of appointed. The US has 27 amendments to the constitution, but in Thailand an amendment to the charter is called 'corruption'.

judicial coup is going to bring the same redshirt backlash as a normal coup, we can only hope that these 'courts' decide to ave some integrity and dismiss these bogus cases piling up against the phuathai.

This protest is not about stopping amendments that the people of Thailand do not like. It is about 1 corrupt man, that if elected (through his election terms) will become president for life. PDRC is attempting to stop it before it is too late. My heart is with the PDRC.

Edited February 4, 2014 by jcb2001

[KarenBravo]

There will be no coup.

There are too many "watermelons" in the army that will cause a split within the armed forces and the generals know it.

[djjamie]

Criminals call it a "judicial coup"

Law abiding citizens call it "being held accountable for breaking the law"

Criminals never really did like following the law and when they break it they always have an excuse. Criminals will dismiss them as "bogus cases" simply because they will never admit they did anything wrong.

The law does not bode well with criminals. Criminals hate the courts as well. Not just Thai criminals. Go to a jail in your country and ask some of the criminals what they think of the courts. They won't say the "courts are great" Ask a guilty criminal that hired a flash lawyer and got off his conviction what he thinks of courts. "They are great" "I love the courts" When guilty and proven guilty the PTP demonize the courts. Predictable antics of a criminal. When guilty, but are proven innocent the PTP applaud the courts. Typical antics of a criminal that got off.

If Abhisit is guilty of murder. I certainly won't like the result, but I will respect it. Why? Because I respect the law. That is the fundamental difference. If you don't respect the law in the first place then it should come as no surprise that it will catch up with you.

[pkspeaker]

Your talking about Thaksin? everything is about this 1 'corrupt' guy.. I don't think so, the PAD/PDRC is a fascist organization, against democracy, they consider the northern Thai's , the ones of Lao and Lanna decent, lesser Thai's and they are enraged that these people get to choose who the PM is because they have more votes, it's a simple as that. They try to turn Thaksin into this bogeyman and make it all about him, it's ballouny , these fascists have a target, and its not 1 guy, its an entire demographic.

[siampolee]

Sad to say ''this current mood of anger is far from over.

I stated a while back that as yet we haven't seen the end game in this series of violent outbursts politically and socially. There is nothing more tragic than violence twixt blood brothers.

The whole blame for this current matter can be laid at the feet of one creature and his family who have been and still are bent on a relentless crusade to establish themselves as the new ruling political dynasty (Dictatorship) and truth be known a greater prize than that is the ultimate aim for the family leader.

How long can or will the military stay on the sidelines is anybody's guess.the military may decide to stay well away from the situation, which in many cases would be the best option. However there is the situation that the country will be in great distress before any serious action to restore law and order may be taken by the military.

We are all well aware that the police are indeed a police farce as opposed to a police force, so chaos will reign at the expense of innocent lives and a wrecked failed state.

Indeed the fate of both Thailand and its peoples are in the lap of the gods.

My hope is that somewhere along the line in the not too distant future people will start to sit down and come to terms with the current situation irrespective of their political views.

A governing body consisting of people with the nation and the peoples interests at heart as opposed to their own personal political and family interests must be created.

If it takes a couple of years or so to get Thailand on an even keel so be it. It can be done, it must be done.

We owe it to our ourselves, but more importantely we owe it to our children and our grandchildren to pass on to them a society that is not in conflict with them and itself

Edited February 4, 2014 by siampolee

[pkspeaker]

Oh yea criminals, I'm sure Obama will be deposed because he went on the tonight show, and parliamentarians get sacked for voting for an amendment to the constitution that makes the country more democratic.. these are called criminal acts in Thailand/

[geriatrickid]

In case anyone missed it, the General and his senior officers made a show of voting. They didn't have to do that. By voting in a public manner they sent a very strong message.

[pkspeaker]

I think you have to take a closer look at what the NACC and Constitution Court really is..

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/thailand-awaits-crunch/966218.html

"The status of the Constitutional Court is very controversial," said Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher with New York-based Human Rights Watch."It is a product of a coup in 2006 and acts mainly as a tribunal not a court of justice per se," he said, noting that the government had been "badly crippled" by its rulings.

​A normal court does not throw out a PM because he went on a cooking show, it does not make amending the constitution to make the house fully elected a 'crime' It does not fast track cases in direct response to anti-democracy rioters.

Criminals call it a "judicial coup"

Law abiding citizens call it "being held accountable for breaking the law"

Criminals never really did like following the law and when they break it they always have an excuse. Criminals will dismiss them as "bogus cases" simply because they will never admit they did anything wrong.

The law does not bode well with criminals. Criminals hate the courts as well. Not just Thai criminals. Go to a jail in your country and ask some of the criminals what they think of the courts. They won't say the "courts are great" Ask a guilty criminal that hired a flash lawyer and got off his conviction what he thinks of courts. "They are great" "I love the courts" When guilty and proven guilty the PTP demonize the courts. Predictable antics of a criminal. When guilty, but are proven innocent the PTP applaud the courts. Typical antics of a criminal that got off.

If Abhisit is guilty of murder. I certainly won't like the result, but I will respect it. Why? Because I respect the law. That is the fundamental difference. If you don't respect the law in the first place then it should come as no surprise that it will catch up with you.

[djjamie]

I think you have to take a closer look at what the NACC and Constitution Court really is..

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/thailand-awaits-crunch/966218.html

"The status of the Constitutional Court is very controversial," said Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher with New York-based Human Rights Watch."It is a product of a coup in 2006 and acts mainly as a tribunal not a court of justice per se," he said, noting that the government had been "badly crippled" by its rulings.

​A normal court does not throw out a PM because he went on a cooking show, it does not make amending the constitution to make the house fully elected a 'crime' It does not fast track cases in direct response to anti-democracy rioters.

Criminals call it a "judicial coup"

Law abiding citizens call it "being held accountable for breaking the law"

Criminals never really did like following the law and when they break it they always have an excuse. Criminals will dismiss them as "bogus cases" simply because they will never admit they did anything wrong.

The law does not bode well with criminals. Criminals hate the courts as well. Not just Thai criminals. Go to a jail in your country and ask some of the criminals what they think of the courts. They won't say the "courts are great" Ask a guilty criminal that hired a flash lawyer and got off his conviction what he thinks of courts. "They are great" "I love the courts" When guilty and proven guilty the PTP demonize the courts. Predictable antics of a criminal. When guilty, but are proven innocent the PTP applaud the courts. Typical antics of a criminal that got off.

If Abhisit is guilty of murder. I certainly won't like the result, but I will respect it. Why? Because I respect the law. That is the fundamental difference. If you don't respect the law in the first place then it should come as no surprise that it will catch up with you.

What you have said is more proof that the PTP have not completely failed. The ministry of propaganda is the most successful ministry in the government and your comments are testimony to that. Well done and I take my hat of to you for saving me the time in having to prove it myself.

[expat888]

Personally, I would like to see this play out without a coup.

When the military acts that just takes a shortcut and postpones the problem into the future. Let them battle it out until it is resolved.

[pkspeaker]

Oh WHATEVER, I posted a link from channelnewsasia and it quoted Sunia Phasuk- a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, so I guess Human Rights Watch is also part of Yinglucks 'Ministry of Propaghanda'.

[bkkfaranguy]

I think you have to take a closer look at what the NACC and Constitution Court really is..

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/thailand-awaits-crunch/966218.html

"The status of the Constitutional Court is very controversial," said Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher with New York-based Human Rights Watch."It is a product of a coup in 2006 and acts mainly as a tribunal not a court of justice per se," he said, noting that the government had been "badly crippled" by its rulings.

​A normal court does not throw out a PM because he went on a cooking show, it does not make amending the constitution to make the house fully elected a 'crime' It does not fast track cases in direct response to anti-democracy rioters.

Criminals call it a "judicial coup"

Law abiding citizens call it "being held accountable for breaking the law"

Criminals never really did like following the law and when they break it they always have an excuse. Criminals will dismiss them as "bogus cases" simply because they will never admit they did anything wrong.

The law does not bode well with criminals. Criminals hate the courts as well. Not just Thai criminals. Go to a jail in your country and ask some of the criminals what they think of the courts. They won't say the "courts are great" Ask a guilty criminal that hired a flash lawyer and got off his conviction what he thinks of courts. "They are great" "I love the courts" When guilty and proven guilty the PTP demonize the courts. Predictable antics of a criminal. When guilty, but are proven innocent the PTP applaud the courts. Typical antics of a criminal that got off.

If Abhisit is guilty of murder. I certainly won't like the result, but I will respect it. Why? Because I respect the law. That is the fundamental difference. If you don't respect the law in the first place then it should come as no surprise that it will catch up with you.

What you have said is more proof that the PTP have not completely failed. The ministry of propaganda is the most successful ministry in the government and your comments are testimony to that. Well done and I take my hat of to you for saving me the time in having to prove it myself.

Now thats like the pot calling the kettle black, the propaganda and BS coming from both sides is like a day time soap opera!

[Gummigalgen]

A coup would be disastrous. You hardly can call the 2006 one a success; it only led to postponement and increase of tension in Thai Society.

[djjamie]

I think you have to take a closer look at what the NACC and Constitution Court really is..

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/thailand-awaits-crunch/966218.html

"The status of the Constitutional Court is very controversial," said Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher with New York-based Human Rights Watch."It is a product of a coup in 2006 and acts mainly as a tribunal not a court of justice per se," he said, noting that the government had been "badly crippled" by its rulings.

​A normal court does not throw out a PM because he went on a cooking show, it does not make amending the constitution to make the house fully elected a 'crime' It does not fast track cases in direct response to anti-democracy rioters.

Criminals call it a "judicial coup"

Law abiding citizens call it "being held accountable for breaking the law"

Criminals never really did like following the law and when they break it they always have an excuse. Criminals will dismiss them as "bogus cases" simply because they will never admit they did anything wrong.

The law does not bode well with criminals. Criminals hate the courts as well. Not just Thai criminals. Go to a jail in your country and ask some of the criminals what they think of the courts. They won't say the "courts are great" Ask a guilty criminal that hired a flash lawyer and got off his conviction what he thinks of courts. "They are great" "I love the courts" When guilty and proven guilty the PTP demonize the courts. Predictable antics of a criminal. When guilty, but are proven innocent the PTP applaud the courts. Typical antics of a criminal that got off.

If Abhisit is guilty of murder. I certainly won't like the result, but I will respect it. Why? Because I respect the law. That is the fundamental difference. If you don't respect the law in the first place then it should come as no surprise that it will catch up with you.

What you have said is more proof that the PTP have not completely failed. The ministry of propaganda is the most successful ministry in the government and your comments are testimony to that. Well done and I take my hat of to you for saving me the time in having to prove it myself.

Now thats like the pot calling the kettle black, the propaganda and BS coming from both sides is like a day time soap opera!

The Democrats never had a ministry of propaganda. Glad your enjoying it though. I look forward to a reply from the supporters of "one principle of democracy" with baited breath.

Edited February 4, 2014 by djjamie

[Thailand]

"Coup watch: Bloody days ahead for Bangkok"

And for Thailand as a whole.

Both sides are hoping for a coup, so they can get out of the shambles they created.

General Prayuth Chan-ocha is not giving them the pleasure for the moment.

But we never know what the future brings.

Absolute rubbish. Only Suthep and the Dems ( as was) would benefit from a coup.

[Scamper]

As the " full story " link for this article doesn't function, the snippet presented represents a pretty dated view of what is happening. The chances of a coup - never particularly high - are if anything much less now. The irony - which from an historical perspective - is quite striking. And it is that neither the army, nor the PDRC, actually have to do anything to change the evolving of events. The courts are now picking up the pieces to this drama. There are constitutional challenges stemming from the election itself, to campaign infractions, to the amnesty bill, to the senate bill, and to the rice scheme scandal - all of which hold potential perils for the Yingluck administration. Whatever happens or doesn't happen on the streets will be ultimately rendered moot by the courts.

[djjamie]

Oh WHATEVER, I posted a link from channelnewsasia and it quoted Sunia Phasuk- a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, so I guess Human Rights Watch is also part of Yinglucks 'Ministry of Propaghanda'.

Not at all. You have actually proven my point further again.

Human Rights Watch criticized the Worachai amnesty bill. The PTP demonized Human Rights Watch because of it and said what do they know.

Then the PTP state Human Rights Watch as you did above making out they know everything and using a quote by them as justification to further the regimes cause.

So what is it HRW are bad or good? Depends on the agenda.

So what is it, the courts are bad or good? Depends on if found guilty or innocent.

[theslime]

Oh yea criminals, I'm sure Obama will be deposed because he went on the tonight show, and parliamentarians get sacked for voting for an amendment to the constitution that makes the country more democratic.. these are called criminal acts in Thailand/

Section 113 parts 1 and 2 of the Constitution, thou shall not change Senate. Guess that makes it illegal, Voting in the early hours had nothing to do with the morning papers.

[gemini81]

Get it done Prayuth.

[brucegoniners]

Page is no longer available!

[jayboy]

The Wall Street Journal eviscerates the Democrats and the partisan Constitutional Court, and has some words about judicial coups.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303442704579360272255058790.html?dsk=y

[bluweyze]

The PhuaThai is NOT hoping for a coup, the shambles they are in is this 'judicial coup' garbage in which 308 MPs are sacked by the 'anti-graft' body NACC for 'voting' to add an amendment to the constitution that would make the upper house fully elected instead of appointed. The US has 27 amendments to the constitution, but in Thailand an amendment to the charter is called 'corruption'.

judicial coup is going to bring the same redshirt backlash as a normal coup, we can only hope that these 'courts' decide to ave some integrity and dismiss these bogus cases piling up against the phuathai.

This protest is not about stopping amendments that the people of Thailand do not like. It is about 1 corrupt man, that if elected (through his election terms) will become president for life. PDRC is attempting to stop it before it is too late. My heart is with the PDRC.

If you think the problem with Thai politics is 'one corrupt man' you are niaeve in the extreme. Thai politics is corrupt to its roots.