Bid to sign up 100,000 democracy guards

[Crushdepth]

Whoever is really organising this is not on the path to peace. No prizes for guessing who.

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[hansnl]

"The number of volunteer "guards to protect democracy" is expected to be at least 100,000 at the end of the month, red-shirt leader Suporn Atthawong said yesterday"

It is nice to see them get something right....By referencing the "protection of Democracy" and getting off this PAD-Dem kick to whitewash themselves.

By only characterizing their coup-mongerism as being "anti-Govt", and those opposed as being "pro-Govt", serves their misleading anti-Democracy agenda which they try to hide. Embarrassed by their own motivations.

Seems to me you are not typical Frisian.

They tend to be quite better informed and less, ehhhh, confused?

It is quite clear those "guards" are not wanted for defending democracy, even UDD_style, but to get a nucleus for an army.

Which can only mean civil war.

If you think that is getting something right you are indeed confused, very much so.

Edited March 9, 2014 by hansnl

[visionchaser45]

I guess it's okay for Suthep to have his private thug guards, just not the other way around.

[visionchaser45]

The Roman rulers had something similar.... the Pretorian Guard, the model later used by Hitler for his own private army, the Waffen SS and in more recent times by insecure dictators around the Third World.

I'm not sure we really need this in a shiny, happy Buddhist paradise like Thailand though.

I

Or the Pope

Or Suthep

[stargas]

And now the people are taking steps to protect themselves when they rally on behalf of the government.

Funny perspective given that these people, who inevitably are the aggressors in 99% of the encounters between the two groups, cry they need protection.

Edited March 9, 2014 by stargas

[stargas]

"The number of volunteer "guards to protect democracy" is expected to be at least 100,000 at the end of the month, red-shirt leader Suporn Atthawong said yesterday"

It is nice to see them get something right....By referencing the "protection of Democracy" and getting off this PAD-Dem kick to whitewash themselves.

By only characterizing their coup-mongerism as being "anti-Govt", and those opposed as being "pro-Govt", serves their misleading anti-Democracy agenda which they try to hide. Embarrassed by their own motivations.

I really liked the reason for sign-up one applicant gave "Applicant Lun Biakratoke said he felt sorry for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra enduring tension from political opponents."

Nothing to do with democratic principles, politics, no, just feeling sorry for that nice lady who always smiling and waves when she tours along.

"enduring tension"

funny stuff

So much for Fryslan's "protection of democracy"

As it turns out, these Red Militiamen are just macho misogynists wanting to protect the hapless damsel in distress... that's "enduring tension"

[wolf5370]

I think so many people on here are being over dramatic. There will not be a civil war, there will not be two armies. Thais don't think this way it is just drama queens on Thai Visa. All the expert political analysis on T.Visa who are experts on everything Thai need to take a moment and go to the toilet and come back and reassess.

Yes there are two political sides jostling for ultimate power and control of the country. Both sides are as bad or evil as the other. No side is better. There is a warrant issued, then there is a counter warrant issued. Then there is my court is better than your court bullshite. You charge me and I will charge you with defamation. The whole Thai political arena is a farse and a circus and we have T.V members siding with their favourite BOZO the clown.

Both need to be hit in the back of the head with a shovel and sent to their rooms and not come out until they can play nice and sought things out. There is only one bat and one ball. Someone has to bat and someone has to bowl.

ASEAN kicks off very soon. I see banners saying Thailand is ready. What bullshite, Thailand hasn't even showered or brushed their teeth and the rest of ASEAN are already walking down the red carpet. The door is about to be closed,

I agree, the posturing is more about 'leave a seat at the table for us'

There will be escalation only if this voice goes unheard and Thailand attempts once again to silence the electorate!

How many coups now, will those that consider this an option, yet again, never learn! The people wish to participate in their future, it would appear they are done with being told what is good for them by the likes of Suthep!

I may have agreed with this pre-2010. However, those events - the rhetoric and incitement from the leadership "take a can of petrol with you to burn Bangkok" etc - such a passive stance can not be relied on any more. After a call for cessation was dropped following very public warnings, a plan we are told that had been underway six months already, and threats to raise an army of 600k - to then suddenly become "100,000 'guards'" that seem to be guarding nothing - such a stance would be most parlous.

[wolf5370]

And now the people are taking steps to protect themselves when they rally on behalf of the government.

Funny perspective given that these people, who inevitably are the aggressors in 99% of the encounters between the two groups, cry they need protection.

Also interesting that so many didn't bothered to turn up to vote - in stronghold areas where there were no obstacles to them doing so - in Feb. Where was the rallying then?

[wolf5370]

I guess it's okay for Suthep to have his private thug guards, just not the other way around.

The p!ss poor effort of the police early on in the protests (when they were still peaceful - and at the start when the Reds turned up at the stadium and we had those Uni student clashes and suspected police shooting at students and students attacking Red Shirts - the police when called decided not to attend the campus on calls from the director that they were under fire!), gave Suthep the ability to cry his need for private protection (aka the PDRC Guards); if the police had performed their job impartially, then there would have been no need of them and the courts would not have allowed them (as it was they have been allowed as the courts have ruled the protests legal).

It is a truly, amazingly, poor indictment of the RTP and the DSI that either private or military have to do their job as they are to biased, incompetent and ineffectual to do it themselves!

Of course, one wonders how many PDRC guards there are per protestor - compared to 100,000 Red guards to Reds that are protesting and thus need protection. Many countries the size of Thailand population wise, and larger, have smaller police forces and smaller armies than 100,000 - hard to justify such numbers on the premise of "personal defence of members". This is crying out for a military move, it is a dangerous game they are playing by baiting an already ruffled army - and not one that put themselves in the good light and the military in the bad light internationally - no country would allow such, and in the end, it will be the victors that get to tell the story - and it would not be 100,000 untrained, unfit, men, women and children many probably too old or young to actually be of any real use anyway. The RTP and Tarit's DSI are plainly hard behind the Reds, so surely given the ridiculous over subscription of police in this country (per head of pop) that they already have quite high numbers of armed guards - all ready with (spray on) uniform, guns, vehicles and (ahem) training.

Also seems to me somewhat nuts to get them to "sign up" - which supposes a list is being held, from which the next government (whenever that happens) can cherry pick who to send to death row from!

[smedly]

PTP and the red leaders all have their snouts in the trough, they have much to lose financially and possibly long jail terms if they are deposed from power - it's a pity the people in the north cannot see this, the lower ranks feel they are empowered in some way as time and time again I hear the "I am a red shirt" I have the power - it is nested through many scams and illegal activity all backed by the police and ultimately the government and the red leaders - they all have it to lose and the further up the chain the more they will lose

The red movement is a mafia of sorts driven by money power greed and ranks right to the very government in office, we have a politicised police force that needs reformed - this country is a mess and it's the cycle of corrupt leaders that keep churning into power every 5 years that keep it going, nothing will change until they are all banned/eradicated for life and or jailed and the system gets cleaned

The first change to make is a simple one - nobody is allowed to take office if they have a criminal conviction or have been previously banned from politics and that should include spouse and relatives

Next the police should come under their own independent system free from politics and the DSI (joke) should be completely disbanded

Until the above happens nothing will change here and Thailand will stagnate for another generation

Notice I didn't mention Suthep once.

The people of Thailand deserve better and can have better - if only they could see it

[MAJIC]

Sign up 100,000 Red Guards,doesn't this sound familiar!???

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CHINAredguards.htm

[MAJIC]

100,000 x 500 baht per day =

= Cannon Fodder for the Puppet Master!

[rametindallas]

100,000 x 500 baht per day =

Any word on who's funding this 'Democracy Army'? Training, which includes: transportation, housing, meals, equipment, instructors, curricula, organizational leadership, etc., isn't cheap. This is a big money enterprise with salaried employees and what about 'subsidies' to the volunteers so they can take of their families while away from their jobs and homes. What about the 'volunteers' employers?

There seems to be a lot more enthusiasm than thought, here.

[MAJIC]

Not taking any side, but just to point out the biggest potential benefit of an asset of 100,000 people would be the psychological one which may become the negotiating table one.

And after all if Suthep can....or could for a while......make his point by raising a large number of people and using them why would the reds sit back and look impotent? They have assets....why not use them?

BTW this is probably reported elsewhere but there were a shxtload of people at the CM exhibition centre yesterday the carpark is appropriately very big but it had filled completely and overflowed onto the street.....nothing like the little downtown affairs.

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What you term assets of the Red Shirts,are in reality huge liabilities,unless you are in favour of the violence,burning,anarchy,and thuggery they created in 2010! Bangkok.

[daboyz1]

What happens if you refuse to sign up? Do you get sent off to a re-education camp?

[JRSoul]

What happens if you refuse to sign up? Do you get sent off to a re-education camp?

I believe the current method of attitude correction is sending a few of "the boys" to visit your wife while you are otherwise engaged.

[timewilltell]

What happens if you refuse to sign up? Do you get sent off to a re-education camp?

I believe the current method of attitude correction is sending a few of "the boys" to visit your wife while you are otherwise engaged.

Where did you get that piece of information from? Is that what is known as carrying out a duty of pleasure?

[JRSoul]

What happens if you refuse to sign up? Do you get sent off to a re-education camp?

I believe the current method of attitude correction is sending a few of "the boys" to visit your wife while you are otherwise engaged.

Where did you get that piece of information from? Is that what is known as carrying out a duty of pleasure?

It was widely reported that a rice farmer protesting non-payment from the government was forced to desist after his wife was visited and threatened by alleged red shirts. AFAIK it never got past intimidation as he withdrew from the protest, but we appear to have a widely different view of "pleasure".

[tim armstrong]

I wonder when they will give up the title 'guards for democracy' and become 'Guards Of Democracy ?

[Goat Roper]

What happens if you refuse to sign up? Do you get sent off to a re-education camp?

I believe the current method of attitude correction is sending a few of "the boys" to visit your wife while you are otherwise engaged.

Where did you get that piece of information from? Is that what is known as carrying out a duty of pleasure?

It was widely reported that a rice farmer protesting non-payment from the government was forced to desist after his wife was visited and threatened by alleged red shirts. AFAIK it never got past intimidation as he withdrew from the protest, but we appear to have a widely different view of "pleasure".

Remember a few weeks back when a few hundred farmers had their minds changed about demonstrating against the government? One of Barnhan's goons convinced this group to return home after a fourteen hour stay in Bangkok? I am still confused about that.

[Pimay1]

100,000 x 500 baht per day =

Any word on who's funding this 'Democracy Army'? Training, which includes: transportation, housing, meals, equipment, instructors, curricula, organizational leadership, etc., isn't cheap. This is a big money enterprise with salaried employees and what about 'subsidies' to the volunteers so they can take of their families while away from their jobs and homes. What about the 'volunteers' employers?

There seems to be a lot more enthusiasm than thought, here.

There is a nest of reds in the village where I live and also in surrounding villages. I've instructed my old girl friend to tell me if she hears of any recruitment going on around here. I want to talk to the recruiter and get the straight scoop. If I find out anything I'll post it.

Edited March 10, 2014 by Pimay1

[bigbamboo]

I wonder when they will give up the title 'guards for democracy' and become 'Guards Of Democracy ?

Just as long as they don't become the Shinawat Specials.

[bkkjames]

PTP and the red leaders all have their snouts in the trough, they have much to lose financially and possibly long jail terms if they are deposed from power - it's a pity the people in the north cannot see this, the lower ranks feel they are empowered in some way as time and time again I hear the "I am a red shirt" I have the power - it is nested through many scams and illegal activity all backed by the police and ultimately the government and the red leaders - they all have it to lose and the further up the chain the more they will lose

The red movement is a mafia of sorts driven by money power greed and ranks right to the very government in office, we have a politicised police force that needs reformed - this country is a mess and it's the cycle of corrupt leaders that keep churning into power every 5 years that keep it going, nothing will change until they are all banned/eradicated for life and or jailed and the system gets cleaned

The first change to make is a simple one - nobody is allowed to take office if they have a criminal conviction or have been previously banned from politics and that should include spouse and relatives

Next the police should come under their own independent system free from politics and the DSI (joke) should be completely disbanded

Until the above happens nothing will change here and Thailand will stagnate for another generation

Notice I didn't mention Suthep once.

The people of Thailand deserve better and can have better - if only they could see it

I think you just did, 2nd sentence from the bottom

[bkkjames]

PTP and the red leaders all have their snouts in the trough, they have much to lose financially and possibly long jail terms if they are deposed from power - it's a pity the people in the north cannot see this, the lower ranks feel they are empowered in some way as time and time again I hear the "I am a red shirt" I have the power - it is nested through many scams and illegal activity all backed by the police and ultimately the government and the red leaders - they all have it to lose and the further up the chain the more they will lose

The red movement is a mafia of sorts driven by money power greed and ranks right to the very government in office, we have a politicised police force that needs reformed - this country is a mess and it's the cycle of corrupt leaders that keep churning into power every 5 years that keep it going, nothing will change until they are all banned/eradicated for life and or jailed and the system gets cleaned

The first change to make is a simple one - nobody is allowed to take office if they have a criminal conviction or have been previously banned from politics and that should include spouse and relatives

Next the police should come under their own independent system free from politics and the DSI (joke) should be completely disbanded

Until the above happens nothing will change here and Thailand will stagnate for another generation

Notice I didn't mention Suthep once.

The people of Thailand deserve better and can have better - if only they could see it

I think you just did, 2nd sentence from the bottom

[rametindallas]

100,000 x 500 baht per day =

Any word on who's funding this 'Democracy Army'? Training, which includes: transportation, housing, meals, equipment, instructors, curricula, organizational leadership, etc., isn't cheap. This is a big money enterprise with salaried employees and what about 'subsidies' to the volunteers so they can take of their families while away from their jobs and homes. What about the 'volunteers' employers?

There seems to be a lot more enthusiasm than thought, here.

There is a nest of reds in the village where I live and also in surrounding villages. I've instructed my old girl friend to tell me if she hears of any recruitment going on around here. I want to talk to the recruiter and get the straight scoop. If I find out anything I'll post it.

'nest of reds'

is that anything like a 'nest of vipers'? I'll follow this thread though I doubt the money backers want their name bandied about and the money distribution will probably be through proxies. This movement, because of the Army's warning and the fact that many are gun-shy after the 2010 debacle, may not really go anywhere and costs, then, will not be much. If they do organize, they will never be able to compete with a trained army. They are mostly too old to be foolish enough to actually risk life and limb and their training and daily regimen will not give them the discipline of a professional army. I would expect a huge desertion rate in the face of any real opposition. The formation of this 'democracy army' is probably for PR or vanity reasons.

[Jonmarleesco]

Were Yingluck really in charge, of the government and her own destiny, she would sack Suporn. He cannot and should not function as a government minister - caretaker, or not - while leading a protest organisation; particularly one with the modus operandi of the red shirt movement.

[stargas]

OP:

The number of volunteer "guards to protect democracy" is expected to be at least 100,000 at the end of the month, red-shirt leader Suporn Atthawong said yesterday.

And today, Red Shirt leader, who is also Deputy Secretary-General to the Prime Minister, Suporn (AKA Isan Rambo) says he is now expecting 200,000 DPVG members to signed up by the end of March.

More info in breaking news section of other paper.

[JamesDean3]

Since when did the REDS ever need security forces? Nobody has been dropping grenades there or doing drive by shootings. Plain and simple this is the recruitment of a paid army. The RTA better do something about it soon too before their numbers swell and they become an overwhelming force.

They speak of discipline to be under the law yet the Reds have never shown respect for any law that goes against them.

They say that they dont want to secede yet they have continuously shown this is their plan. Including providing a safe haven for YL to rule.

In any other civilised country in the world this type of action would be stopped immediately by the military or trained police. Just as surely the leader would be abhorred and outraged and speaking out against this publically. But, this is not a civilised democratic country and the leaders are most likely encouraging this behind the scene as well as financing it.

A call to speak out against for what you believe is right is not the same thing as a recruitment post seeking young men for (security)

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No problem just arrest the leaders and everything will fall apart.