We favour a democratic Lanna republic, Chiang Mai group says
The Sunday Nation

CHIANG MAI: -- The idea of setting up a People's Democratic Republic of Lanna (PDRL) has been under discussion for six months now, according to a leader of the Love Chiang Mai group.

Petchawat Wattanapongsirikul said the PDRL would just be a separate political system for the North, split from Bangkok, and not an independent state. He claims as many as four million out of six million northerners support the idea. Petchawat said people who prefer dictatorship can move from the northern region to other parts of Thailand and warned actors and singers supporting the anti-government People Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) that Chiang Mai people do not welcome them.

He said there were three factors behind the idea of setting up a "Republic of Lanna". Firstly, people in the North were looked down upon by others, with the PDRC often referring to red shirts as "red water buffaloes". Secondly, the opposing group did not respect the law and there were double standards in the judicial system. The third reason, he said, was the undemocratic aspirations of the PDRC.

Looking down on red shirts as 'red-water buffaloes' was a severe form of discrimination against human dignity, Petchawat noted.

The one country, two systems model existed in China and Hong Kong, he said, as an example.

Any attempt to stage a coup or to shut down Thailand would result in a struggle to create an independent Lanna Republic, which he insisted would continue to respect HM the King as head of state. He claims to have the support of 80 per cent of people in the North, including those who are not red shirts.

"In case there're those who think differently and admire dictatorship, they can move elsewhere. I'm not chasing them away but people should live under a political system that they are happy with. If you are democratic, come stay with us at PDRL."

A group of academics, students and alumni at Surat Thani Rajabhat University issued a statement yesterday condemning people who harbour ideas of seccession.

In the Northeast, meanwhile, the red-shirt movement began its first day of registration of "democracy defence volunteers". There was also a similar campaign in Maha Sarakham.

-- The Nation 2014-03-02

this people so stupid.

go away from my country please !!

"Petchawat said people who prefer dictatorship can move from the northern region to other parts of Thailand"

This guy Can't see the forest for the trees, they are the ones who loves to live under Thaksin's dictatorship. "Democratic" Lanna Republic, yeah dream on.

Kabooooooom.

No doubt they would bring Thaksin back as their democratic elected leader for life, succeeded by his son.

They would have their red army, red schools, red law for the masses with leaders exempt and anyone who didn't agree with them would be banned, like the singers.

As a tactic, the threat of separatism has worked very well for the people of Quebec, Canada. The government handouts are endless. But I doubt the threat here will be taken seriously.

The Bangkok crowd are more closely compared to a different group of French peoples; the aristocracy of France pre-1789.

No doubt they would bring Thaksin back as their democratic elected leader for life, succeeded by his son.

They would have their red army, red schools, red law for the masses with leaders exempt and anyone who didn't agree with them would be banned, like the singers.

"Democratic" Lanna Republic, as democratic as North Korea. The Thai armed forces should act quickly here, these people have to be put in jail.

This group is as representative of Northern Thai public opinion as the the Tonbridge Wells Nazi Party is of UK public opinion. Chiang Mai isn't going anywhere.

Maybe not next week, but don't underestimate how few supporters are needed to cause serious trouble.

It's at least a position that identifies some of the underlying issues in Thailand. Separate cultures and thinking.

80 per cent of people in the North agree, if they know what's good for their health.

democratic republic of taksin shinawatra buffaloes? The reality is nothing is made up there and everything would need to be imported from Thailand, including rice. Then they would become a land locked poor country like Laos. It would be economic suicide. Also all the people around Chiang Mai are from different ethnic groups and are not one people, so its not true you could have a united Lanna kingdom. idiotic thinking?

Hmmm….landlocked country with hostile neighbour controlling all the trade and transport links. Yep, that'll work.

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Seems to me this is Thaksin's latest tactic, i.e. an attempt to prepare a safe landing place from which he can re-enter the fray and exert his boundless (as he sees it) personal influence. He may be in Thailand at this moment.

Thaksin thinks. Thaksin distributes money/promises. Organizations are formed and then proceed to issue statements dictated by the great leader himself.

Blatant insurrection though, isn't it?

this people so stupid.

go away from my country please !!

I guess you are from BKK and that is why you are calling them stupid and looking down on them.

Hmmm….landlocked country with hostile neighbour controlling all the trade and transport links. Yep, that'll work.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

It would not be land locked, would control much of the raw product Bangkok needs to function water, labor, electrical power, rice etc.

You must have not understood what was stated, if Bangkok wanted an "appointed dictatorship", which most of democratic Thailand will not agree to!

Cheers

democratic republic of taksin shinawatra buffaloes? The reality is nothing is made up there and everything would need to be imported from Thailand, including rice. Then they would become a land locked poor country like Laos. It would be economic suicide. Also all the people around Chiang Mai are from different ethnic groups and are not one people, so its not true you could have a united Lanna kingdom. idiotic thinking?

I have seen numerous rice fields in the north, no need to buy from Bangkok. I think they could survive on their own. It won't happen tho and it shouldn't happen. What next the people in the south set up their own little state? The Hi So's of Bangkok would be cut off and would have to actually set up their own rice fields in the city and work them.

Ironically enough one of the reform ideas proposed by the PDRC was to make the provinces more accountable locally, by having provincial governors directly elected instead of appointed by Bangkok. Seems the red-shirts and the PDRC might actually have something they could agree on.

this people so stupid.

go away from my country please !!

I guess you are from BKK and that is why you are calling them stupid and looking down on them.

You actually think this nonsense is a good idea?

As for ponchi, the fake Thai Troll; do not feed.

It doesn't matter whether we think its a good idea. It matters how many thai people might think its a good idea, and whether the thai army think that this is quite enough of this nonsense.

Not sure the numbers, but I don't think for one moment that The Army will believe it to be a good idea. Second day running that these secession ideas have been banded around, and absolutely no denouncement from Yingluck.

Hmmm….landlocked country with hostile neighbour controlling all the trade and transport links. Yep, that'll work.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

It would not be land locked, would control much of the raw product Bangkok needs to function water, labor, electrical power, rice etc.

You must have not understood what was stated, if Bangkok wanted an "appointed dictatorship", which most of democratic Thailand will not agree to!

Cheers

You poor deluded fool! How do you expect Lanna to stop the rivers flowing to BKK? Do you think the northern workers are going to quit their relatively high paying jobs to go back to unemployment and rural poverty?

And if the southern provinces can't grow enough rice (unlikely), Cambodia is selling cheaper and allegedly better quality.

This will be the same 4 million supporter stats plucked from from the same mid air source as the 6 million on the streets of Bangkok.

I think this is a spectacular own goal for the UDD / Love CM Group that should no doubt lead to a further decline in their popularity. The vast majority of Thais love Thailand and the idea of splinting their country up is truly abhorrent.

Keep up the Good work Love Chiang Mai, your making YL work even more difficult by the day.

Petchawat Wattanapongsirikul and his Chiang mai friends will be arrested for les majesté very soon.

Hmmm….landlocked country with hostile neighbour controlling all the trade and transport links. Yep, that'll work.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

It would not be land locked, would control much of the raw product Bangkok needs to function water, labor, electrical power, rice etc.

You must have not understood what was stated, if Bangkok wanted an "appointed dictatorship", which most of democratic Thailand will not agree to!

Cheers

Not landlocked?

Where is the sea up there?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

No doubt they would bring Thaksin back as their democratic elected leader for life, succeeded by his son.

They would have their red army, red schools, red law for the masses with leaders exempt and anyone who didn't agree with them would be banned, like the singers.

"Democratic" Lanna Republic, as democratic as North Korea. The Thai armed forces should act quickly here, these people have to be put in jail.

Now that's North Korean style!

this people so stupid.

go away from my country please !!

I guess you are from BKK and that is why you are calling them stupid and looking down on them.

Or poster has a brain and this is why she/he calling them stupid

Hmmm.landlocked country with hostile neighbour controlling all the trade and transport links. Yep, that'll work.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

It would not be land locked, would control much of the raw product Bangkok needs to function water, labor, electrical power, rice etc.

You must have not understood what was stated, if Bangkok wanted an "appointed dictatorship", which most of democratic Thailand will not agree to!

Cheers

Sometimes it only takes one post to confirm what most people suspect.

Cheers.

Why not Kokoo Land ?

A grammar police post has been removed as well as the replies.

A post with messed up quotes has been removed as well.

What drivel, guy must be in his second childhood......

No doubt they would bring Thaksin back as their democratic elected leader for life, succeeded by his son.

They would have their red army, red schools, red law for the masses with leaders exempt and anyone who didn't agree with them would be banned, like the singers.

"Democratic" Lanna Republic, as democratic as North Korea. The Thai armed forces should act quickly here, these people have to be put in jail.

Now that's North Korean style!

Rite North Korea Thaksin one and the same.