Red Shirt rally called off early; leaders vow to gather again, regroup

[webfact]

Red Shirt rally called off early; leaders vow to gather again, regroup
By English News



BANGKOK, April 7 – Pro-government demonstration leaders today cut short their intended three-day rally on Aksa Road and sent demonstrators back to their home provinces.

The rally was originally scheduled for three days, ending this evening, but red shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) leader Jatuporn Promphan announced on stage the decision to call off the activity.

'This is just a rehearsal for the next rally the venue of which we will keep confidential,' he said, boasting that the next event will be extremely crowded with a massive number of supporters.

Mr Jatuporn accepted a challenge by anti-government leader Suthep Thaugsuban to conduct a comparative count on the number of demonstrators for both factions.

Mr Suthep is secretary general of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) which has been involved in anti-government movement for more than five months.

UDD leader Nattawut Saikua said the rally on Aksa Road was successful in both quality and quantity and it is unnecessary to compare with the quantity with PDRC demonstration.

“Since we follow democracy-- which is accepted by people worldwide-- it’s the same as a victory for us. The next battle will be a new chapter in the history of Thailand,” he said.

City administration employees started cleaning the much-littered Aksa Road after Red Shirt supporters left the scene, while explosives experts and police dogs were assigned to search for possible bomb substances in the rally site.

Meanwhile, PDRC core leader Thavorn Senneam said the PDRC’s proposal for a neutral prime minister would not lead to a sovereignty state but it is a process to resolve the country’s political stalemate in case caretaker premier Yingluck Shinawatra refuses to accept rulings of the Constitution Court or the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).

Ms Yingluck will be subject to step down if either of the two agencies finds her guilty agrees with charges against her for dereliction of duty in the rice pledging scheme and abuse of power in the transfer of Thawil Pliensri, chief of the National Security Council to an inactive post.

He said the PDRC will allow the reopening of government buildings which have been sealed off as part of its anti-government protests but caretaker Cabinet members will be barred from entering their respective ministries. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-04-07

[rubl]

"boasting that the next event will be extremely crowded with a massive number of supporters."

With the 500,000 he expected and of course got for this event, I have no doubt the next time the numbers will be even more impressive.

Edited April 7, 2014 by rubl

[Tatsujin]

Embarrassingly low turnout doesn't tally with the "huge support" they still think they have in their ever so tiny little minds. Welcome to reality.

[pmugghc]

Fiasco!

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[dcutman]

City administration employees started cleaning the much-littered Aksa Road after Red Shirt supporters left the scene,

Photo from ManopY

PDRC core leader leads the cleaning up of Victory Monument



BANGKOK 23 January 2014 (NNT) — Former Democrat Party member and core leader of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) Tavorn Senniam led a clean-up at the Victory Monument after 10 days of protesting in the area.

[Soutpeel]

See what happens when no one is handing out cash...Redshirt rally cancelled due to lack of interest...

One supposes the skype is very busy between BKK and Dubai....."big boss need money urgently, the peasants are revolting..."

So one suspects with this failure on can expect an increase in grenade attacks/bombs going off ?

UDD leader Nattawut Saikua said the rally on Aksa Road was successful in both quality and quantity

What exactly is this imbecile on about ?....the elevated toilets at the rally site ?

[virtualtraveller]

Face it, it was a flop, just look at their faces of disappointment. Set yourself up for a high stakes numbers game and you're going fall short. Don't start comparing yourself to Suthep, he made his point with the 350,000 at the height of the rally and it was twice as big as anything UDD have ever managed, dispelling the myth that they are represent the vast majority. They are deluded. Truth is, both movements have big support but are not representative of the nation as a whole. Both need to be taken seriously and respect the other's position as valid and widely supported.

[rogeratkins]

Announcing 500.000 red shirts and then saying it is only a rehearsal hahahah . They are such good brains no wonder the rice scheme was a fiasco. What they gonna do next threaten people with guns to have some crowd on their rallys?.Yes they are DEMOCRATIC just like North Korea is democratic .They have there elections too

[bkkjames]

City administration employees started cleaning the much-littered Aksa Road after Red Shirt supporters left the scene,

Photo from ManopY

PDRC core leader leads the cleaning up of Victory Monument

BANGKOK 23 January 2014 (NNT) — Former Democrat Party member and core leader of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) Tavorn Senniam led a clean-up at the Victory Monument after 10 days of protesting in the area.

looks like Pattaya a couple weeks ago.

[TVGerry]

Now now there, let's be nice and not make fun of the red shirts and the lack of support during these railies of theirs. We should at least wait for the red apologists here on TV to reply and make a spin of things before we start.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

City administration employees started cleaning the much-littered Aksa Road after Red Shirt supporters left the scene,

Photo from ManopY

PDRC core leader leads the cleaning up of Victory Monument

BANGKOK 23 January 2014 (NNT) — Former Democrat Party member and core leader of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) Tavorn Senniam led a clean-up at the Victory Monument after 10 days of protesting in the area.

looks like Pattaya a couple weeks ago.

United Front for Dirty Districts (UDD) ?

[bkkjames]

Now now there, let's be nice and not make fun of the red shirts and the lack of support during these railies of theirs. We should at least wait for the red apologists here on TV to reply and make a spin of things before we start.

Well Gerry, I am not making fun of them, I actually feel for the ordinary folk who felt 'obliged' to attend. Most didn't want to be here I am sure, rather stay home with their families and hope that they get paid for their rice and can support themselves.

[zydeco]

So, not only did they deliberately trash the road and district, all of which has a religious designation, but, according to the OP, we now need to wait and see if the Red Communists left any IEDs or landmines on the road. What a pack of animals this group is.

Edited April 7, 2014 by zydeco

[smutcakes]

To be honest it is completely irrelevant how many supporters are at any of the rallies. Unless one rally brought together 51% of the voting population, they are largely irrelevant in terms of how things will pan out going forward- short of all out civil unrest i presume.

Having 100,000 persons at a rally does not change a law- hence if someone is innocent or guilty, really it should make no difference if the law is followed correctly.

[dcutman]

City administration employees started cleaning the much-littered Aksa Road after Red Shirt supporters left the scene,

Photo from ManopY

PDRC core leader leads the cleaning up of Victory Monument

BANGKOK 23 January 2014 (NNT) — Former Democrat Party member and core leader of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) Tavorn Senniam led a clean-up at the Victory Monument after 10 days of protesting in the area.

looks like Pattaya a couple weeks ago.

It clearly shows the level (or the lack of) of leadership here. Protests indeed do disrupt the area and its local residents no matter the size and duration. It is quite evident who the more civilized group is here, if there was any doubt before.

[Nickymaster]

City administration employees started cleaning the much-littered Aksa Road after Red Shirt supporters left the scene,

Photo from ManopY

PDRC core leader leads the cleaning up of Victory Monument

BANGKOK 23 January 2014 (NNT) — Former Democrat Party member and core leader of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) Tavorn Senniam led a clean-up at the Victory Monument after 10 days of protesting in the area.

looks like Pattaya a couple weeks ago.

The Red shirts have never cleaned up their mess after a rally. That is something only the PDRC elites do.

Anyhow, let's be happy nothing was set on fire or destroyed. That is the best you can hope for when the Reds take to the streets.

[Pimay1]

Jatuporn looks like he just got an ass chewing from the dear leader on Skype. A look of gloom, despair, and agony on me,
deep, dark depression, excessive misery, if it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all.

[northernjohn]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Face it, it was a flop, just look at their faces of disappointment. Set yourself up for a high stakes numbers game and you're going fall short. Don't start comparing yourself to Suthep, he made his point with the 350,000 at the height of the rally and it was twice as big as anything UDD have ever managed, dispelling the myth that they are represent the vast majority. They are deluded. Truth is, both movements have big support but are not representative of the nation as a whole. Both need to be taken seriously and respect the other's position as valid and widely supported.

I really think the nation as a whole would support the anti government protestors. Remember it was from the grassroots people that they got their start and they had the power to force Yingluck to close the house. Here in Chiang Mai the heart of red shirt land they are not that popular any more and their rallies are just as big a joke as Jatuporn.

What will destroy them is if Suthep keeps up with the stuff he started spouting this week end. The system will work it doesn't need his approval of the choice of intern PM. They know that the old friend relative man with the money and favors system will not be stood for by the people now.

[Why ask]

I look forward to the first night's production, as if this was the dress rehearsal I personally will be laughing all the way to Makro for Cumberland sausages and beans to celebrate the first night's real crowd. At least, there is one thing I admire Jatuporn for; he's still getting paid huge sums of money from Dubai for being a complete and utter wan>deleted<ker.

[Scamper]

The UDD rally was a flop from every perspective. Jatuporn may have accepted Suthep's challenge of a numbers count now, but if he had accepted it before - he would have lost. Big time. Thaksin has clearly stopped the flow of money. And the farmers - the very core of the UDD - haven't their heart in it anymore, especially as their red shirt compatriots blocked them repeatedly from travelling to Bangkok in order to protest the rice scheme fiasco.

" UDD leader Nattawut Saikua said the rally on Aksa Road was successful in both quality and quantity and it is unnecessary to compare with the quantity with PDRC demonstration. “ Since we follow democracy-- which is accepted by people worldwide-- it’s the same as a victory for us. The next battle will be a new chapter in the history of Thailand,” he said. "

The fact that Nattawut is already distancing himself from Suthep's numbers challenge is because there is no way - in spite of Jatuporn's predilection to add three zeroes to every UDD turnout - that the UDD will be able to match it.

But let's see how Nattawut " I will claim responsibility, my brothers " Saikua defines democracy : calling to dilute the effectiveness of the legal oversight checks and balances of the independent agencies and judicial system, particularly the National Anti-Corruption Commission; wishing to impeach Constitutional Court judges - the highest court in the land; de-legitimizing the rulings of the Criminal Court, the Civil Court, the Administrative Court, and the Supreme Administrative Court; promising non-acceptance and civil unrest if the NACC or the Constitutional Court rules against Yingluck; advocating secession; and calling for ten million Thais to arm themselves with guns. That is the democracy that Nattawut refers to. And that is the shallow edifice of the UDD from start to finish.

[Tokay]

Give it up already.

The reds are just as embarrassing as the yellows.

[thesetat2013]

Nattawut to his protesters.

Its ok if only a few people are here today! We have much more protesters than the PDRC because we have all the people of the world who believe in democracy to add to our numbers and that is a lot more than the PDRC has. By the way. We are not continuing this rally due to lack of people coming so everyone can go home. We will change the name of this rally to a rehearsal and try again after songkran. Heheeeehheee

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[khunken]

To be honest it is completely irrelevant how many supporters are at any of the rallies. Unless one rally brought together 51% of the voting population, they are largely irrelevant in terms of how things will pan out going forward- short of all out civil unrest i presume.

Having 100,000 persons at a rally does not change a law- hence if someone is innocent or guilty, really it should make no difference if the law is followed correctly.

Interesting spin on failure. The rallies are not completely irrelevant - one big one actually stopped a disastrous amnesty bill being passed and led to a government resigning. Another not quite as big one left 90+ deaths and a fair amount of destruction in its wake.

The reduction in numbers does indicate a waning support for both the red shirts and the PDRC. If the PTP leadership (i.e. Thaksin) had any sense or love of his country, now would be a very good time to accept that reforms are needed and negotiate a way to achieve a peaceful solution before his sister is potentially removed by the courts.

[thesetat2013]

I wonder if their next call to war will brjng as many supporters?

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[thaipod]

Looks like he will have to gather more illegal aliens to keep up the numbers as looks like the northern folk are getting fewer and fewer.

The mess they have left behind is amazing, at least Suthep's followers were getting together and cleaning up everyday and helping the district workers keep the area clean.

Nuttawat said it was successful in quantity and quality . Oh well.

Edited April 7, 2014 by metisdead
Bold font removed.

[Thailand]

A mines bigger than yours, school kids games.

No brainer that everybody was pissed off with rallies red white or blue and to call it just before Songkran even more mind numbingly dumb.

[smutcakes]

To be honest it is completely irrelevant how many supporters are at any of the rallies. Unless one rally brought together 51% of the voting population, they are largely irrelevant in terms of how things will pan out going forward- short of all out civil unrest i presume.

Having 100,000 persons at a rally does not change a law- hence if someone is innocent or guilty, really it should make no difference if the law is followed correctly.

Interesting spin on failure. The rallies are not completely irrelevant - one big one actually stopped a disastrous amnesty bill being passed and led to a government resigning. Another not quite as big one left 90+ deaths and a fair amount of destruction in its wake.

The reduction in numbers does indicate a waning support for both the red shirts and the PDRC. If the PTP leadership (i.e. Thaksin) had any sense or love of his country, now would be a very good time to accept that reforms are needed and negotiate a way to achieve a peaceful solution before his sister is potentially removed by the courts.

That would be the best plan, but i think the PDRC (Suthep) have made it clear they will not negotiate its their way or no way (not saying the PTP are saying anything different but not vocally). When there is no way to be negotiated it pins all backs to corners. Behind closed doors i am sure negotiations could still be made though, although if things are going on behind closed doors and there is still no resolution, perhaps things are a lot more serious than the usual posturing in Thailand.

Perhaps at this junction not even the military can make them see sense, and the military might even question their ability to carry out a coup without large scale conflict occurring.

[smutcakes]

To be honest it is completely irrelevant how many supporters are at any of the rallies. Unless one rally brought together 51% of the voting population, they are largely irrelevant in terms of how things will pan out going forward- short of all out civil unrest i presume.

Having 100,000 persons at a rally does not change a law- hence if someone is innocent or guilty, really it should make no difference if the law is followed correctly.

Interesting spin on failure. The rallies are not completely irrelevant - one big one actually stopped a disastrous amnesty bill being passed and led to a government resigning. Another not quite as big one left 90+ deaths and a fair amount of destruction in its wake.

The reduction in numbers does indicate a waning support for both the red shirts and the PDRC. If the PTP leadership (i.e. Thaksin) had any sense or love of his country, now would be a very good time to accept that reforms are needed and negotiate a way to achieve a peaceful solution before his sister is potentially removed by the courts.

Ken, in terms of numbers, i meant these days we know if they want,all of them can get a few 10K's if they were really pushed. We are way past the stage of showing her can drag the most people to a rally- as at the end of the day it does not really mean anything anymore. They all just lie about the numbers anyway.

[ramrod711]

In amphur Theung, about 40 km east of Chiang Rai, my inlaws were offered 100 baht to attend a meeting at a school. At the meeting the monk beaters offered them 500 baht per day to sign up to go to Bangkok, apparently there were very few takers. I think the UDD have underestimated the anger of the farmers.

[Luk Mhee]

"boasting that the next event will be extremely crowded with a massive number of supporters."

With the 500,000 he expected and of course got for this event, I have no doubt the next time the numbers will be even more impressive.

Wazza matter! Not enough money to pay your supporters? Soon they too will be coming to get their outstanding monies due to them, just like the farmers did.