We favour a democratic Lanna republic, Chiang Mai group says

[Ricardo]

PDRL sound more like the Tooting Popular Front.

It's the People's Popular Front of Tooting.

Not to mention the Tooting Peoples' Popular Front !

And what did the Romans ever do, for Lanna, after all ?

[Pimay1]

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.

I would like to see the Statement of Principles and Statement of Faith of this new "democracy defence volunteer" group along with a detailed description of their understanding of the twenty-one pillars of democracy.

[mrtoad]

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.

I would like to see the Statement of Principles and Statement of Faith of this new "democracy defence volunteer" group along with a detailed description of their understanding of the twenty-one pillars of democracy.

The Principles will be

[uptheos]

PDRL sound more like the Tooting Popular Front.

It's the People's Popular Front of Tooting.

Not to mention the Tooting Peoples' Popular Front !

And what did the Romans ever do, for Lanna, after all ?

They had their way and... voom! Like a rat out of an aqueduct.

[eggers]

Total Nonsense.

The Yingluck Gov't is controlled by her dictator "puppeteer" in Dubai.

The "Lanna Republic" would be controlled the asme as now + have small economy; though likely control water supply & hold other parts of country to ransom.

When are Thai people of influence going to focus on uniting the country; not tearing it asunder for their own political & financial greed.

Thailand is self limiting in its ability to be a major force within ASEAN; instead it is a train wreck waiting to happen

[marstons]

"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.

Thaskin was not a Dictator he won by elections, and formed a cabinet. Check out definition of a Dictator. He allowed other parties to stand against him.Now check out the Pillsbury Dough Boy i North Korea to see what a dictator is, also check out what Thaskin did in his 5 years.

Thaksin's economic policies helped Thailand recover from the 1997 Asian financial crisis and substantially reduce poverty. GDP grew from 4.9 trillion baht in 2001 to 7.1 trillion baht in 2006. Thailand repaid its debts to the International Monetary Fund two years ahead of schedule.

Income in the Northeast, the poorest part of the country, rose by 46% from 2001 to 2006.^[63] Nationwide poverty fell from 21.3% to 11.3%.^[25] Thailand's Gini coefficient, a measure of income inequality, fell from .525 in 2000 to .499 in 2004 (it had risen from 1996 to 2000) ).^[64] The Stock Exchange of Thailand outperformed other markets in the region. After facing fiscal deficits in 2001 and 2002, Thaksin balanced the national budget, producing comfortable fiscal surpluses for 2003 to 2005. Despite a massive program of infrastructure investments, a balanced budget was projected for 2007.^[65] Public sector debt fell from 57 per cent of GDP in January 2001 to 41 per cent in September 2006.^[29][30] Foreign exchange reserves doubled from US$30 billion in 2001 to US$64 billion in 2006.^[66]

[bigbamboo]

Something I find amusing is that before my stroke, when I would take bike trips around the North and North/East, people in all areas would ask me why I like Thailand. Depending on where I was, I would reply that I love the Lanna Thai, or Lao Thai, or Issan Thai better than I do the Siam Thai of BKK. Invariably this would result in huge smiles, and comments of "Smart Farang" or "Good Farang", and immediately endear me to those around me.

I just turned 66 and my wife is 10 years younger. I have been told multiple times by various family members that if something happened to my wife, don't worry, because they are proud "Lanna Thai", family is first, and I would always be taken care of. I legally adopted my wife's son 3 years ago when he was 26. After we finished and were ready to leave, he asked me and his mom to wait outside. Half an hour later he came out and showed me the documents where he had legally changed his last name to mine, along with his new ID card bearing his new name. When I asked why he did that, he didn't hesitate to tell me: "I did it to honor the man who is my father."

In the 6+ years I've been here, I've only had one incident with 4 young "punks", which didn't turn out so good for them. Other than that, I love the people of the North & North East. They are proud of their heritage and fiercely defend it. And from what I've seen, there is no love lost between them and those of BKK. I don't know about succession, but I feel that most of them would agree to some type of separation from BKK would be good for them.

Love Thaksin

Love Thida

Love Juttaporn

Love Darb Daeng

Yingluck OK

Love Lanna

we have lots of baht

we take from stupid falang

they think sin sot real

55555

we spend all on whiskey and gamble

you have whiskey for us?

we take care of you

Just out of Redshirt School are we?

[uptheos]

Remind me, who from the Thai authorities carried Thaksin's luggage to the plane, when he was assisted in leaving instead of going to jail?

Less than 200k bail and no passport withheld for a multi billionairre...........Amazing Thailand.

Edited March 2, 2014 by uptheos

[Scamper]

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

This is a new kind of lunacy, but one that is delivered with straight-faced seriousness in the world of the UDD. This is of course just the next step for them. The first step was the establishment of " red villages ", which was - and is - an utterly unconstitutional action, as it sets up a state within a state mentality. This similarly is a state within a state idea. And again, it is profoundly unconstitutional. This is Yingluck's adoring base. Problem is - they want a regional republic. And that is a big, big problem for Yingluck. In 2011, Yingluck and the UDD were instant companions. Now, the UDD are becoming a burden and embarrassment for her. As prime minister, she is sworn to uphold the constitution, and the constitution recognizes only one state. So when Ki-moon comes over, Yingluck's conversation will need to go something like this. " The people against democracy - do you see them ? They're the ones eating at that picnic table in Lumpini Park. Do you see the people covering the National Anti-Corruption Commission with cement and are vowing to go after the legal checks and balances of the independent agencies and the Civil Court, and want the northern part of the country separated from the other regions - they're the ones who love democracy. They love it so much they are cementing democracy. "

Edited March 2, 2014 by Scamper

[marstons]

ginjag, on 02 Mar 2014 - 09:36, said:

smovi57, on 02 Mar 2014 - 09:05, said:

Thaksin always one move ahead.

Like Montenegro, then Dubai ???

Or anywhere else in the world, except Thailand. You do understand that Thaksin is free to move around as he wishes, that abhisit and the dems were lying about the Interpol warrant, and did so for over two years?

As far as I know, Thaksin is free to come to Thailand any time he wants. But as he is a coward, he won't.

So if your country wanted to put you in prison if you returned you would go back to show what a man you are, even though living as a Multi Millionaire free to travel the world and live in Dubai.

[nong38]

Wonderful news from the top brains in the land. Does this mean that the rest of the country would return to a more normal situation with less rallies perhaps?

Amazing what a few bottles of Yadong can do to a few normal people, imagine what they do to abnormal people in short order and thats before the bottles are opened!

[pineconehead]

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.

That is true up until recently, as most of the rest of the country is so pre-occupied with other things that many now would almost welcome the opportunity to ditch Quebec. Progressive or not, the rest of the country is tired of packing Quebec's separatists around. Further, the fact that the Quebec provincial Government is deeply in debt means they can "huff 'n' puff " all they want but they won't likely cut the purse strings.

So, back on topic. Separatism as a political weapon might not have the same effect here as 238 years is a long time to try to resurrect a past kingdom, even if it was as a "democratic republic". And lastly, the bit about "4 million out of 6 million" of people support this idea. I saw recently on either the "Bangkok post" or the "National" web site a short video asking peoples from Issarn about if they wanted to vote, and other questions related to democracy practices. One question was "how do you feel about people from the North selling their votes" (or something to that effect). One person answered VERY wisely (paraphrasing here) "All people sell their votes to both sides, then go out and vote what they want anyways" "Both sides buy votes". If I had to point out one statement as an indicator of a bluff or as indication out right spuriousness, it is the bit about "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." so tell me why would a monarch of a united country be willing to allow someone to use separatist ideas to break up a nation?

The may think that they have a majority, but I'd rather gamble on that a large portion of their majority are just saying what they want to hear at any given time. After all avoiding conflict, and saving face is the Thai way.

Isn't it?

Edited March 2, 2014 by pineconehead

[Melyn]

PDRL sound more like the Tooting Popular Front.

It's the People's Popular Front of Tooting.

Not to mention the Tooting Peoples' Popular Front !

And what did the Romans ever do, for Lanna, after all ?

Which one's Woolfie?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[moe666]

The mayor of chiang mai I believe is a PTP guy so it would appear they already have their democracy in the north as being PTP makes it a democracy.

[smovi57]

Love Thaksin

Love Thida

Love Juttaporn

Love Darb Daeng

Yingluck OK

Love Lanna

we have lots of baht

we take from stupid falang

they think sin sot real

55555

we spend all on whiskey and gamble

you have whiskey for us?

we take care of you

Welcome to another new poster.

Can't I pick-and-choose for myself, who I love or respect, as I can now in Thailand ?

Or would that freedom be discouraged, under the Big Boss's glorious world-reforming 'true democracy' political-theory, in the proposed P.D.R.L. ?

I doubt this poster will be around long. Nice Troll for a first post though.

there is nothing wrong with his post. no troll there just speekin the truth on up north life. I paid 50 thousand baht, can i get that back i thought it was mandatory.

[moe666]

"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.

Thaskin was not a Dictator he won by elections, and formed a cabinet. Check out definition of a Dictator. He allowed other parties to stand against him.Now check out the Pillsbury Dough Boy i North Korea to see what a dictator is, also check out what Thaskin did in his 5 years.

Thaksin's economic policies helped Thailand recover from the 1997 Asian financial crisis and substantially reduce poverty. GDP grew from 4.9 trillion baht in 2001 to 7.1 trillion baht in 2006. Thailand repaid its debts to the International Monetary Fund two years ahead of schedule.

Income in the Northeast, the poorest part of the country, rose by 46% from 2001 to 2006.^[63] Nationwide poverty fell from 21.3% to 11.3%.^[25] Thailand's Gini coefficient, a measure of income inequality, fell from .525 in 2000 to .499 in 2004 (it had risen from 1996 to 2000) ).^[64] The Stock Exchange of Thailand outperformed other markets in the region. After facing fiscal deficits in 2001 and 2002, Thaksin balanced the national budget, producing comfortable fiscal surpluses for 2003 to 2005. Despite a massive program of infrastructure investments, a balanced budget was projected for 2007.^[65] Public sector debt fell from 57 per cent of GDP in January 2001 to 41 per cent in September 2006.^[29][30] Foreign exchange reserves doubled from US$30 billion in 2001 to US$64 billion in 2006.^[66]

Go back and read your history Big T had resigned as PM and was running a care taker government he called a snap election but not enough minesters elected to form a parliament he resigned and then anointed himself PM again but he was never approved by the king. No he was not the PM of Thailand at the time of the coup.

[Issangeorge]

Petchawat Wattanapongsirikul said the PDRL would just be a separate political system for the North, split from Bangkok, and not an independent state.

Is this not very close to what Suthep has proposed in his decentralization policy? Instead of rabble rousing, Perchawat should be talking to Suthep, it sounds like they agree on at least somethings.

Sent from my i-mobile IQ X using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Edited March 2, 2014 by Issangeorge

[hansnl]

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.

I am not living in Bangkok.

And I agree, those people are stupid.

This republic will be democratic in name only, anyone thinking different must leave the country, or will be desroyed one way or another.

The wished president will be president for life, there will never be a poll.

Look at the map, the country will never be economically possible.

And what do you think of all those northern people working in the rest of Thailand?

You think they will be able to stay?

For them there will be an endless row of neighbour AEAN people, cheaper.

And to close, you think the rest of Thailand will accept those threats of violence without answer.

Do those people really want a civil war?

Simply because one man, or family, want boundless power?

My father said to me, never trust a politician.

They are in politics for money, for power, or for both.

[chooka]

PDRL sound more like the Tooting Popular Front.

It's the People's Popular Front of Tooting.

Not to mention the Tooting Peoples' Popular Front !

And what did the Romans ever do, for Lanna, after all ?

They had their way and... voom! Like a rat out of an aqueduct.

Another couple of python fans

[realenglish1]

A dictatorship Oh really People love a dictatorship Ummmmm and what about all the revolting around the world with regard to finished ditatorship

The human spirit does not like a dictatorship This idiot is just spewing rubbish 80% want a dictatorship Where are the studies. I think he misread it

80% of the people want freedom you nurd

[Stan7444]

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

Certainly does and one cannot ignore the majority of the people in any country and still have a democracy. It also puts the spotlight upon the "real" underling issues in this country, and not only "corruption".

One thing that the PDRC protests did bring to light are many social, economic and cultural issues. The voices of the majority of people must be heard, regardless if one personally agrees with it or not, and the minority also needs to have a voice in many issues. One or the other group should not be shut out of any debate. Problem is Thai culture is of a zero sum nature with the winner taking all attitude, providing very little room for negotiations to arrive at a win-win solution for the country. What is needed is to get more reasonable and moderate people in the discussion as opposed to only the loudest of the fringe extremists.

[aripengu]

Rak Chiang Mai 51 ar as representative as PAD's Dhamma Army, both hooligan groups with a poor understanding of democracy.

Don't forget that the big backers of Red and Yellow are mostly interested in business, I think Suthep's retreat to Lumphini is an indicator of that.

[Muhendis]

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

Or are they copying Scotland perhaps?

[pkspeaker]

What these people are asking is not as extreme as people think judging from the reactionary posts on this thread.

All they are asking for is limited autonomy, they clearly said they support the king as head of state, which means Lanna is still part of Thailand but an autonomous region.

First of all, usually it is THE MINORITY that tries to break away from a majority by sectioning off part of the country where they are the majority. Why would a majority give away part of it's country when it can just rule over the whole thing?

In this case the northern group has said that they only take this position IF democracy is in effect being defeated by an endless cycle of bigmoney and military backed judicial coups-a system that was put into place by a military coup in 2006. Every outside observer sees the courts like the NaCC are ridiculously biased against the ruling PhuaThai party, and it doesn't exactly close the credibility gap when the NaCC starts creating and then fasttracking cases after the recent protests started..

This group may back away from this position when they realize just how much they stand to lose financially if the separation takes place, forcing a HongKongish type state in the south, small but rich.

On the other hand the Lanna state would be unburdened by things like military and Bangkok oriented government spending, which is the lyons share of this countries budget.

It all depends on the specifics of the separation agreement, and could the agreement ever be agreed upon? BIG ? there, ​how would you get the 2 sides to agree to all tha when they can't amicably share power under the current single-rupublic system?

Edited March 2, 2014 by pkspeaker

[Melyn]

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

Or are they copying Scotland perhaps?

Sans oil

Sans deep fried Mars bars

Sans haggis

There may possibly be McShin tartan though

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[gabruce]

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

what part of the north of thailand has oceanfront? I haven't found it yet. It would make a nice vacation or day trip.

[johnlandy]

this people so stupid.

go away from my country please !!

"stupid is as stupid does" And that sums their thinking.

[djayz]

I'm not familiar enough with Thai politics, the general consensus, etc. to be able to comment on the probability of this ever happening, but I'm deeply saddened by the fact that factions are now beginning to call for breakaway states, creating their own Republics, etc.

This whole conflict really has gone on long enough now - it's time for all parties involved to sit down at a table and negotiate - in the interest of the nation and its people.

Lives have been lost, businesses affected and the image of the country tarnished (again) by protesters on the streets of the capital.

I've spoken to a few Thai friends who are "fed up" with the situation and simply want the army to step in and take control...

I've often wonder about the real cause of this problem... is it really about Mr. T. and his family meddling in politics? Is it about Bangkok vs. and the rest of the Kingdom?

I for one would hate to see the country being split up.

[Dogmatix]

It is a bit of a puzzle how they could have a republic and still remain loyal to HMK. Their red and white flag seems to have already removed the blue colour that signifies monarchy. Naming this putative republic after the People's Democratic Republic of Laos makes it very clear what type of system they want to espouse, i.e. one party elections and an authoritarian "dictatorship of the proletariat" run by a Chinese billionaire who can't visit their neighbour to the South due to criminal convictions there.

[Smurkster]

this people so stupid.

go away from my country please !!

What makes them stupid exactly? I'd love for you to explain rather than simply say it, is it possible you feel threatened that this could actually happen??

Lanna actually wasn't fully absorbed into the modern thai nation state since 1939 so the idea of it being an independent country has historical precedence. Are you Central Thai? Thailand proper is really just the Central Plains and the South. Lanna people, and Isan people aren't Siamese nor are they the progeny of Ayutthayan Kingdom